Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic FP3

On this page, we are reviewing the Olympus SH-50 and Panasonic FP3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Ultracompact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SH-50 (16MP) and the FP3 (14MP) is very comparable and both cameras posses the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SH-50 was brought out 3 years later than the FP3 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus SH-50 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FP3 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a concise overview of how the SH-50 grades vs the FP3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus SH-50 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus SH-50 Gallery and Panasonic FP3 Gallery.

If you're planning to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SH-50 has external dimensions of 112mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Panasonic FP3 has dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") with a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SH-50 and Panasonic FP3 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you use at the time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the SH-50 compared to the FP3.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SH-50 and FP3 is 88 and 95 respectively.

Normally, it's hard to envision the gap in sensor sizing merely by checking out technical specs. The graphic here will help give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-50 and FP3.

As you have seen, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Olympus SH-50 to produce more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics more aggressively. The newer SH-50 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.