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Olympus SH-50 vs Sony A9

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Olympus SH-50 front
 
Sony Alpha A9 front
Portability
65
Imaging
74
Features
93
Overall
81

Olympus SH-50 vs Sony A9 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
  • Introduced January 2013
Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Increase to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Announced April 2017
  • New Model is Sony A9 II
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Olympus SH-50 vs Sony A9 Overview

In this write-up, we are looking at the Olympus SH-50 vs Sony A9, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. There exists a substantial gap between the resolutions of the SH-50 (16MP) and A9 (24MP) and the SH-50 (1/2.3") and A9 (Full frame) enjoy different sensor size.

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The SH-50 was brought out 5 years earlier than the A9 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SH-50 being a Compact camera and the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving through a more detailed comparison, below is a quick summary of how the SH-50 grades against the A9 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-50 over the Sony A9

 SH-50 A9 

Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Olympus SH-50

 A9 SH-50 
AnnouncedApril 2017January 2013Fresher by 52 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1440k460kSharper display (+980k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SH-50 and Sony A9

 SH-50 A9 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus SH-50 vs Sony A9 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera, you need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus SH-50 features physical measurements 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 Sony A9 has specifications of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SH-50 vs Sony A9 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the SH-50 versus the A9.

Olympus SH-50 vs Sony A9 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SH-50 and A9 is 88 and 65 respectively.

Olympus SH-50 vs Sony A9 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Sony A9 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to imagine the gap between sensor sizing just by checking a spec sheet. The graphic below may provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SH-50 and A9.

As you can see, both of those cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The SH-50 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field harder and the Sony A9 will give you greater detail having its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop images a little more aggressively. The older SH-50 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SH-50 vs Sony A9 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Sony A9 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-50 vs Sony A9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A9 Portrait photography highlights
44
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
provides face detection focus
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
84
has manual focus
decent megapixels (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
features face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Street photography features
Sony A9 Street photography features
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
boasts touch to focus
lighter than average in class (269 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
79
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
large sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
has focus by touch
environment proofing
above average ISO range (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SH-50
Sports photography with Sony A9
48
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
87
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
silent shutter (1/32,000s)
fast shooting (20.0 frames per second)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
features tracking focus
environment proofing
good battery power (650 shots)
has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-50 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A9 as a Travel photography camera
69
lighter than average in class (269 grams)
boasts touch to focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
74
good battery power (650 per charge)
environment proofing
has bluetooth
has focus by touch
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Landscape photography info
Sony A9 Landscape photography info
49
manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
86
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
above average ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
good battery power (650 CIPA)
two card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Vlogging highlights
Sony A9 Vlogging highlights
34
quite wide (25mm)
touch screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (269 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
doesn't have external mic socket
37
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect autofocus
great video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has microphone socket
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Olympus SH-50 vs Sony A9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-50 and Sony A9
 Olympus SH-50Sony Alpha A9
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SH-50 Sony Alpha A9
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Pro Mirrorless
Introduced 2013-01-08 2017-04-19
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI BIONZ X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 6400 51200
Maximum boosted ISO - 204800
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW support
Minimum boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 693
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 1,440 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,686 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 12.0 frames/s 20.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269g (0.59 pounds) 673g (1.48 pounds)
Dimensions 112 x 63 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 92
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 24.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 3517
Other
Battery life - 650 pictures
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID SLB-10A NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots One Two
Launch cost $300 $4,498