Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax P80

In this write-up, we are contrasting the Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax P80, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Pentax. There exists a huge gap between the resolutions of the SH-50 (16MP) and P80 (12MP) but they use the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SH-50 was revealed 3 years after the P80 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a in depth comparison, below is a concise summary of how the SH-50 matches up vs the P80 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus SH-50 and Pentax Optio P80. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus SH-50 Gallery and Pentax P80 Gallery.

If you're going to carry around your camera frequently, you need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus SH-50 comes with physical dimensions of 112mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Pentax P80 has specifications of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SH-50 vs Pentax P80 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the SH-50 against the P80.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SH-50 and P80 is 88 and 95 respectively.

More often than not, it can be tough to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes purely by going over technical specs. The picture underneath will give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-50 and P80.

As you can tell, both cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You should anticipate the Olympus SH-50 to deliver greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images a little more aggressively. The more modern SH-50 provides an edge in sensor technology.