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Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic ZR1

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Olympus SH-50 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic ZR1 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
  • Revealed January 2013
Panasonic ZR1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Revealed July 2009
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-ZX1
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Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic ZR1 Overview

Here, we are analyzing the Olympus SH-50 versus Panasonic ZR1, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a substantial gap between the resolutions of the SH-50 (16MP) and ZR1 (12MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SH-50 was brought out 3 years after the ZR1 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick summation of how the SH-50 grades against the ZR1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-50 over the Panasonic ZR1

 SH-50 ZR1 
RevealedJanuary 2013July 2009More modern by 43 months
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR1 over the Olympus SH-50

 ZR1 SH-50 

Common features in the Olympus SH-50 and Panasonic ZR1

 SH-50 ZR1 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic ZR1 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SH-50 provides exterior dimensions of 112mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZR1 has dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") and a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SH-50 versus Panasonic ZR1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have attached at the time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the SH-50 versus the ZR1.

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic ZR1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SH-50 and ZR1 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic ZR1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic ZR1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizes only by going over specifications. The image here will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SH-50 and ZR1.

Plainly, both the cameras come with the identical sensor size but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Olympus SH-50 to offer you more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more recent SH-50 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic ZR1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Portrait photography info
Panasonic ZR1 Portrait photography info
44
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focusing
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
21
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SH-50
Street photography with Panasonic ZR1
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides focus via touch
lighter than competitors in class (269 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Sports photography information
Panasonic ZR1 Sports photography information
48
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow fps (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic ZR1 Travel photography highlights
69
lighter than competitors in class (269 grams)
provides focus via touch
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
57
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-50 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZR1 as a Landscape photography camera
49
has manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
32
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual exposure
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Vlogging factors
Panasonic ZR1 Vlogging factors
34
fairly wide (25mm)
touch screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (269g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
lack of external mic jack
28
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone port
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Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic ZR1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-50 and Panasonic ZR1
 Olympus SH-50Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SH-50 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-ZX1
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-01-08 2009-07-27
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI Venus Engine V
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 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 125 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-200mm (8.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance 5cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 12.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 5.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269 grams (0.59 pounds) 158 grams (0.35 pounds)
Physical dimensions 112 x 63 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery ID 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 card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $300 $280