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Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic LX5

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Olympus SH-50 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 front
Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic LX5 Key Specs

Olympus SH-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 269g - 112 x 63 x 42mm
  • Announced January 2013
Panasonic LX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-90mm (F2.0-3.3) lens
  • 271g - 110 x 65 x 43mm
  • Launched December 2011
  • Superseded the Panasonic LX3
  • New Model is Panasonic LX7
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Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic LX5 Overview

Following is a extensive overview of the Olympus SH-50 versus Panasonic LX5, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the SH-50 (16MP) and LX5 (10MP) and the SH-50 (1/2.3") and LX5 (1/1.63") use different sensor dimensions.

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The SH-50 was announced 13 months after the LX5 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a in depth comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the SH-50 grades vs the LX5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-50 over the Panasonic LX5

 SH-50 LX5 
LaunchedJanuary 2013December 2011More modern by 13 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic LX5 over the Olympus SH-50

 LX5 SH-50 

Common features in the Olympus SH-50 and Panasonic LX5

 SH-50 LX5 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Display resolution460k460kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic LX5 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus SH-50 has outside dimensions of 112mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Panasonic LX5 has measurements of 110mm x 65mm x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus SH-50 versus Panasonic LX5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the SH-50 against the LX5.

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic LX5 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SH-50 and LX5 is 88 and 88 respectively.

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic LX5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic LX5 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes only by reading specs. The image here might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-50 and LX5.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SH-50 with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Olympus SH-50 will offer you greater detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The newer SH-50 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic LX5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic LX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic LX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SH-50
Portrait photography with Panasonic LX5
44
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
offers face detection focusing
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
41
manual focus
delivers RAW formats
MP count low (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.63")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-50 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic LX5 as a Street photography camera
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides touch focus
lighter than competition (269g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
59
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/1.63")
more heavy than average (271 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Sports photography info
Panasonic LX5 Sports photography info
48
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.63")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Travel photography features
Panasonic LX5 Travel photography features
69
lighter than competition (269g)
provides touch focus
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
59
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than average (271 grams)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-50 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic LX5 as a Landscape photography camera
49
you can focus manually
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
52
manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.63")
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Vlogging info
Panasonic LX5 Vlogging info
34
fairly wide (25mm)
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (269 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic port
29
reasonably wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone support
more heavy than average (271 grams)
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Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic LX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-50 and Panasonic LX5
 Olympus SH-50Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SH-50 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-01-08 2011-12-15
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.63"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 8.07 x 5.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 44.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 125 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-90mm (3.8x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.0-3.3
Macro focusing range 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 4.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 12.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 7.20 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD Lite
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269g (0.59 pounds) 271g (0.60 pounds)
Dimensions 112 x 63 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") 110 x 65 x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 41
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 19.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.8
DXO Low light rating not tested 132
Other
Battery ID SLB-10A -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at release $300 $294