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Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic S3

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Olympus SH-50 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic S3 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
  • Introduced January 2013
Panasonic S3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Introduced January 2011
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Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic S3 Overview

The following is a extensive comparison of the Olympus SH-50 and Panasonic S3, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SH-50 (16MP) and the S3 (14MP) is pretty close and they use the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SH-50 was revealed 2 years after the S3 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a thorough comparison, below is a concise summary of how the SH-50 grades vs the S3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-50 over the Panasonic S3

 SH-50 S3 
IntroducedJanuary 2013January 2011Newer by 25 months
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Olympus SH-50

 S3 SH-50 

Common features in the Olympus SH-50 and Panasonic S3

 SH-50 S3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic S3 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus SH-50 features 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 S3 has proportions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SH-50 and Panasonic S3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising during that time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the SH-50 compared to the S3.

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic S3 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the SH-50 and S3 is 88 and 96 respectively.

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic S3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic S3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by viewing specifications. The image underneath will help offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SH-50 and S3.

To sum up, both of those cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Olympus SH-50 to render greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more modern SH-50 should have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic S3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Portrait photography features
Panasonic S3 Portrait photography features
44
manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
supports face detect focus
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
28
MP count good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Street photography info
Panasonic S3 Street photography info
64
image stabilization (Optical)
provides focus by touch
lighter than competition (269g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (117g)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SH-50
Sports photography with Panasonic S3
48
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
supports tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SH-50
Travel photography with Panasonic S3
69
lighter than competition (269 grams)
provides focus by touch
decent megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
68
lighter than competitors in class (117 grams)
MP count good (14MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
no Timelapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-50 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic S3 as a Landscape photography camera
49
manual focus
rather wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
38
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7")
manual mode not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Vlogging advice
Panasonic S3 Vlogging advice
34
rather wide (25mm)
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (269g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic support
31
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (117g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone socket
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Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic S3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-50 and Panasonic S3
 Olympus SH-50Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SH-50 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-01-08 2011-01-05
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI Venus Engine IV
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.1-5.6
Macro focus range 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 12.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269 gr (0.59 lbs) 117 gr (0.26 lbs)
Dimensions 112 x 63 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 250 pictures
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model SLB-10A -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $300 $110