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Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic GF5

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Olympus SH-50 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
54
Overall
50

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic GF5 Key Specs

Olympus SH-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 269g - 112 x 63 x 42mm
  • Launched January 2013
Panasonic GF5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 267g - 108 x 67 x 37mm
  • Released April 2012
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GF3
  • Updated by Panasonic GF6
Photography Glossary

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic GF5 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus SH-50 versus Panasonic GF5, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference among the image resolutions of the SH-50 (16MP) and GF5 (12MP) and the SH-50 (1/2.3") and GF5 (Four Thirds) possess different sensor sizing.

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The SH-50 was revealed 10 months later than the GF5 so they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SH-50 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving in to a complete comparison, below is a quick overview of how the SH-50 scores versus the GF5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-50 over the Panasonic GF5

 SH-50 GF5 
ReleasedJanuary 2013April 2012More recent by 10 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Olympus SH-50

 GF5 SH-50 
Display resolution920k460kSharper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SH-50 and Panasonic GF5

 SH-50 GF5 
Manual focus More precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic GF5 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera, you're going to have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SH-50 offers outside dimensions of 112mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GF5 has dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs).

See the Olympus SH-50 versus Panasonic GF5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use at that time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the SH-50 compared to the GF5.

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic GF5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SH-50 and GF5 is 88 and 89 respectively.

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic GF5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic GF5 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to visualize the gap in sensor measurements merely by seeing specifications. The photograph underneath will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-50 and GF5.

Plainly, each of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SH-50 using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Olympus SH-50 will produce greater detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The younger SH-50 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic GF5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic GF5 Portrait photography highlights
44
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
offers face detect focusing
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
55
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
saves RAW formats
cannot use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SH-50
Street photography with Panasonic GF5
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides focus by touch
lighter than competitors (269g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
70
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
features touch to focus
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Sports photography information
Panasonic GF5 Sports photography information
48
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
40
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
slow frames per second (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Travel photography advice
Panasonic GF5 Travel photography advice
69
lighter than competitors (269 grams)
provides focus by touch
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
no Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
61
features touch to focus
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-50 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic GF5 as a Landscape photography camera
49
has manual focus
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
no Timelapse recording
59
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SH-50
Vlogging with Panasonic GF5
34
decently wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (269g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
no microphone socket
32
built-in touchscreen
has face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
lack of microphone port
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Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic GF5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-50 and Panasonic GF5
 Olympus SH-50Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SH-50 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2013-01-08 2012-04-05
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 125 160
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Total lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 12.0 frames per sec 4.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 6.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269 grams (0.59 lbs) 267 grams (0.59 lbs)
Dimensions 112 x 63 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 50
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 573
Other
Battery life - 360 pictures
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-10A -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $300 $600