Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic GH3

The following is a detailed analysis of the Olympus SH-50 versus Panasonic GH3, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SH-50 (16MP) and the GH3 (16MP) is fairly close but the SH-50 (1/2.3") and GH3 (Four Thirds) provide different sensor sizes.

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The SH-50 was released 4 months after the GH3 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus SH-50 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GH3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the SH-50 scores versus the GH3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus SH-50 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3. The complete galleries are available at Olympus SH-50 Gallery and Panasonic GH3 Gallery.

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera, you'll need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus SH-50 has got physical measurements 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 GH3 has measurements of 133mm x 93mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") having a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs).

Check the Olympus SH-50 versus Panasonic GH3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the SH-50 versus the GH3.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SH-50 and GH3 is 88 and 66 respectively.

Quite often, it is hard to picture the gap in sensor dimensions only by researching specifications. The picture below may give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SH-50 and GH3.

Plainly, both the cameras have the same megapixels but different sensor dimensions. The SH-50 offers the smaller sensor which is going to make obtaining shallow DOF tougher.