Olympus SH-1 vs Olympus SP-100: A Deep Dive into Two Superzoom Wonders

When Olympus dropped the Stylus SH-1 and the Stylus SP-100 in early 2014, they stirred up a buzz in the small sensor superzoom arena. Both cameras, although different in form and some functions, targeted enthusiasts hungry for extensive zoom ranges combined with a manageable footprint and an affordable price tag. Having put both through their paces extensively, I’m here to unpack how they stack up in the real world - beyond specs sheets and marketing buzzwords.

So if you're on the hunt for a superzoom compact - say, for travel, wildlife, or just general “grab and go” photography - join me for this detailed comparison that includes everything from sensor tech to ergonomics, and portraits to astrophotography. I’ll also sprinkle in practical perspectives that only hands-on experience can bring.

First Impressions: Size, Handling, and Design Philosophy

Right out of the gate, these two Olympus superzooms appeal to different user mindsets. The Olympus SH-1 is a compact, pocketable shooter that embraces a minimalist, sleek profile. The SP-100, on the other hand, is an SLR-like bridge camera - definitely more substantial, with a beefier body aimed at users wanting an SLR feel but without swapping lenses.

Looking at their dimensions and weight (the SH-1 weighs a featherlight 271g, while the SP-100 tips the scales at 594g), the compact SH-1 is perfect for those who prioritize portability. Its body measures 109x63x42mm, fitting easily into a roomy jacket pocket. The SP-100 is 122x91x133mm - a serious chunk of camera that commands a dedicated space in your bag.

Despite their size difference, both maintain Olympus's trademark solid plastic feel, though the SP-100 edges toward a more substantial grip and weight balanced for longer lens reach. If your priorities lean toward carrying comfort on long days, or fitting the camera in tight spaces, the SH-1 wins hands-down. For handling during extended zoom usage or for a more traditional camera feel, the SP-100 has an advantage.

Top View and Control Layout: Balancing Simplicity and Control

When you pick up a camera, the control layout reveals a lot about who it’s for and what you can do. Olympus shows different philosophies here:

The SH-1 boasts a minimalist top plate with a modest number of buttons, a mode dial that leans toward automatic or scene modes, and a small electronic zoom lever on the back. Its touchscreen interface further compensates for physical button limitations - that touch sensitivity allows you to navigate menus and adjust focus points quickly. Honestly, I appreciated this on the fly, especially for casual shooting or travel scenarios where fiddling with dials is a pain.

In contrast, the SP-100 carries the SLR-like control arsenal: dedicated dials for shutter and aperture priority, a complex mode dial, and a more abundant array of buttons. This is a camera for someone who enjoys crafting exposure settings manually. The lack of touchscreen, though, does feel somewhat retro - menu navigation relies on physical buttons and a joystick. A minor downside, but worth mentioning in a time when touchscreens were becoming the norm.

Bottom line: the SH-1 is geared for convenience and portability, while the SP-100 is aimed at deliberate manual control and serious enthusiast use.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Camera

Let's get technical for a moment - the sensor on both cameras is the same size: 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS sensor measuring 6.17 x 4.55mm (28.07 mm²) with 16 megapixels. While this sensor format is small by enthusiast standards - dust bunnies are larger - it’s what you'd expect in superzoom compacts designed to fit long focal ranges into a small body.

The sensor size naturally limits dynamic range and low-light performance compared to APS-C or full-frame counterparts. But Olympus applied their TruePic VII processor in the SH-1 (and a similar chip in the SP-100) to wring as much quality as possible.

During my shooting sessions, I noticed both cameras manage noise well up to ISO 800 in daylight and overcast conditions, but beyond ISO 1600, noise becomes intrusive - especially in shadows. Prolonged high-ISO shooting leads to image degradation, so low-light fans might find these limiting.

Resolution-wise, the 16MP sensor delivers detailed 4608 x 3456 images, sufficient for prints up to 13x19 inches, or cropping in moderate amounts. Both cameras employ anti-aliasing filters to reduce moiré but at the cost of slight softness - nothing unusual here.

Colour rendition is surprisingly good for small sensor cameras - Olympus’s in-camera sharpening and fine-tuned JPEG processing produce vibrant but natural skin tones and pleasant landscapes with decent color accuracy straight out of the camera.

Shooting Portraits: Is There Enough Beauty in the Bokeh?

Portrait aficionados will immediately wonder if these cameras deliver pleasing subject separation and skin tones.

Thanks to their small sensors and long zoom lenses, both cameras can produce some subject-background separation, but don't expect creamy DSLR-style bokeh. The SH-1’s 25-600mm equivalent lens (f/3.0-6.9) offers reasonable reach but a narrow max aperture at telephoto end means background blur is taut and more digital softness than genuine.

The SP-100’s longer reach - 24-1200mm (f/2.9-6.5) - helps get closer to subjects from afar, but again, bokeh remains limited by sensor size and aperture.

What about autofocus? Both cameras have contrast-detection AF with face detection, working well in good light. The SH-1’s touchscreen AF point selection is a handy tool for portraits. Eye detect autofocus? No. Animal eye detect? Also no.

Skin tones rendering was smooth and natural on both, with slight warmth that's flattering for portraits. Macro performance is superior on the SP-100 with a minimum focus distance of 1cm vs 3cm on the SH-1, which helps for close-up head shots or partial body portraits.

In summary: both cameras can handle casual portraits - families, children, travel snaps - with competence but won't satisfy professional portrait shooters needing shallow depth of field or advanced AF.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range and Weather Readiness

Landscape photography demands high resolution, wide dynamic range, and often weather-sealed bodies for rugged outdoor use.

Neither the SH-1 nor SP-100 has weather sealing or rugged build to recommend them for harsh conditions. That’s a limitation to keep in mind if you envisage hiking through rain or dust.

Dynamic range on these small sensors is modest, with shadows becoming murky in high contrast scenarios like bright skies and dark foregrounds. Shooting in RAW could help bring out details, but neither camera supports RAW files - Olympus decided to omit RAW for both, a bummer for editing enthusiasts.

Here the SH-1 and SP-100 offer competent auto-exposure bracketing and multi-segment metering, but the small sensor’s inherent limitations cap landscape image quality compared to larger sensor cameras.

Still, the 16MP resolution captures impressive detail for casual prints or web use. The wide-angle coverage (24mm on SP-100, 25mm on SH-1) satisfies most landscape framing needs.

Wildlife and Sports Photography: Autofocus and Burst Speed

Wildlife and sports shooters require autofocus speed, tracking accuracy, and high frame rates - even more so with long telephoto lenses.

Let's break down burst modes and AF:

• SH-1 continuous shooting: 12 fps (surprisingly fast for this class)
• SP-100 continuous shooting: 7 fps (more conservative)

In practice, the SH-1 performs impressively in burst shooting, locking focus quickly in bright conditions with face detection helping track moving subjects. Contrast-detection AF means the AF can occasionally “hunt” in low light or complex backgrounds - typical for this AF type.

The SP-100’s longer reach - up to 1200mm equivalent - is a massive plus for distant wildlife, but the lower burst rate means you might miss fleeting moments in choppy action. Its contrast AF performs similarly to the SH-1, though with the larger zoom it can struggle with tracking fast-moving subjects at maximum focal length.

Both cameras lack phase detection points, so their autofocus isn’t as speedy or reliable as modern mirrorless cameras with hybrid AF. However, for casual wildlife or sports shooting, they’re decent companions.

Street Photography: Discretion, Portability, and Usability

Street photography thrives on stealth, nimbleness, and quick response. Here, the SH-1 shines.

Its pocketable size and silent operation (shutter speed maxes at 1/2000s, no electronic shutter though) mean you can blend in easily. The touchscreen makes selecting focus points quick, and a 3-inch 460k-dot screen is bright enough to check composition discreetly.

In contrast, the SP-100’s bulk and SLR shape are more conspicuous. The electronic viewfinder with 920k-dot resolution is great for daylight framing, but the absence of a touchscreen slows settings tweaks.

Neither camera is particularly fast in startup time or ready to shoot right out of a pocket, but the SH-1's lighter weight and smaller footprint make it the go-to for casual street shooters.

Macro Photography: Magnification and Precision

Macro is a surprising strength for both cameras given their respective minimum focus distances:

• SH-1 macro focus: 3cm
• SP-100 macro focus: 1cm

The SP-100’s 1cm macro distance is impressive for a superzoom, enabling tight close-ups of flowers, insects, and textures. Combining with the optical image stabilization, it yields sharp handheld results, especially in good light.

The SH-1’s 3cm macro is decent but lacks the precision for ultra-close details.

Neither offer focus stacking or bracketing, but both support manual focus (SP-100 explicitly, SH-1 via touchscreen autofocus point selection), which allows fine-tuning focus in macro shooting.

Night and Astrophotography: Low Light and Long Exposure Capabilities

Small sensors traditionally limit astrophotography due to higher noise; however, I was curious to see how these two fare.

Performance wise:

• Max ISO 6400 (SH-1) and 6400/12800 boosted (SP-100)
• Minimum shutter speed 30s on both
• Built-in stabilization (sensor-shift on SH-1, optical on SP-100)
• No built-in intervalometer or bulb mode

I tested star field shots using 20-30 second exposures at ISO 1600: results were surprisingly respectable. Noise was visible but not overwhelming when applying noise reduction.

The SP-100’s longer reach is less relevant here because astrophotography benefits from wider lenses, but the 24mm wide end is tight yet serviceable.

Neither camera’s built-in timelapse mode helps in astrophotography - SH-1 offers timelapse recording, but the SP-100 does not.

For snapshots under the stars, these perform acceptably but serious astro shooters will look elsewhere.

Video Capabilities: How Do They Hold Up?

Both cameras support 1080p video at 60 and 30fps, a solid offering for 2014-era compacts.

• File format: H.264 for efficient compression
• External microphone port available on both, crucial for improved audio
• No 4K or high frame rate slow motion (typical for time)
• Both include optical or sensor-shift image stabilization to smooth handheld clips

In practice, video on the SH-1 is easy to activate and features touchscreen focusing during recording. The SP-100’s lack of touchscreen means you rely on buttons and more deliberate AF adjustments.

Low light video is limited by sensor and lens speed, but steady walking shots are possible with stabilization. Audio quality through external mics is good; however, neither camera supports headphone monitoring.

Overall, both suffice for casual video capture, but videographers will find them lacking compared to more modern mirrorless or DSLRs with advanced video features.

Travel Photography: Versatility, Battery, and Size

When packing light matters, the SH-1 is clearly a better travel partner. Lightweight, pocket-friendly, quick focusing and 25-600mm zoom make it a solid all-around shooter for landscapes, street, and casual portraiture.

The SP-100, though heavier and bulkier, offers the incredible 24-1200mm zoom useful for wildlife or distant landscapes - something you can’t readily get with a small zoom compact. However, the heavier weight and size might detract from mobility and ease of access.

Battery life favours the SH-1 with about 380 shots per charge, versus 330 shots on the SP-100. Neither supports USB charging, requiring spare batteries for long trips.

Both take SD/SDHC/SDXC cards with a single slot, so backup storage is a must for extended travel.

Wireless connectivity is built-in on the SH-1, allowing easier image transfer, while the SP-100 requires an optional accessory.

Professional Use: Reliability and Workflow Integration

Despite decent specs, these cameras do not support RAW capture, which limits post-processing flexibility - a notable downside for pros.

File formats are limited to JPEG and H.264 video. There’s no tethered shooting capability or advanced focus bracketing and stacking features that professional workflows often demand.

Both cameras have sturdy, if unsealed bodies that shouldn’t be pushed into extreme environments without extra care.

Overall, these cameras are better suited as travel or casual shooters supporting semi-professional or enthusiast workflows rather than studio or pro field work.

Comprehensive Performance Ratings: Who Edges Out?

After testing every pixel and button, here’s an overall performance evaluation:

Roughly,

Genre-Specific Strengths: Choosing Based on Your Passion

If you’re wondering which camera shines in your favorite type of photography, here’s a tailored breakdown:

• Portraits: SH-1 edges with better autofocus and portability.
• Landscape: Tie - both limited by sensor size, but SP-100’s longer zoom aids framing.
• Wildlife: SP-100 with its massive 1200mm zoom is superior.
• Sports: SH-1's faster continuous burst rate benefits more dynamic action.
• Street: SH-1 easily wins with size and discreetness.
• Macro: SP-100 macro minimum focus bug advantage.
• Night / Astro: Similar low light limitations, SH-1 timelapse help.
• Video: SH-1 better touchscreen focus during recording.
• Travel: SH-1 lighter and more versatile.
• Professional: Neither fully suited, but SH-1's ease of use edges out.

Sample Gallery: Seeing Is Believing

Here are side-by-side sample images taken with both cameras under various conditions - daylight landscapes, low-light interiors, wildlife at distance, and macro shots:

Olympus SH 1 front Olympus SH 1 screen back Olympus SP 100 front Olympus SP 100 screen back

In these shots, you can note the SP-100’s superior reach in wildlife zooms (check the bird in the distance). Portraits show both cameras deliver acceptable skin tone and color fidelity, but background blur is modest. Landscape shots are sharp but limited by sensor dynamic range.

The Verdict: Which Olympus Superzoom Should You Buy?

Ultimately, choosing between the Olympus SH-1 and SP-100 boils down to your priorities:

• Opt for the Olympus SH-1 if:

  • You want a pocketable, lightweight camera that's quick to grab and shoot
  • You shoot a mix of street, landscapes, casual portraits, and need decent zoom (up to 600mm)
  • You value touchscreen controls and built-in wireless connectivity
  • You need better burst shooting for action shots or sports
  • Battery life and portability are paramount

• Go for the Olympus SP-100 if:

  • You demand an extremely long zoom (up to 1200mm) for distant wildlife or sports
  • You want fuller manual control with dedicated shutter/aperture dials
  • You prioritize macro close-up flexibility with a minimum focus of 1cm
  • You don’t mind added bulk and weight
  • You appreciate an electronic viewfinder for bright-light framing

Neither camera is perfect - they are compromises shaped by design goals. Both occupy an interesting niche, bridging compacts and larger superzooms, at prices appealing to enthusiasts.

If you want more image quality, better low light, and RAW support, consider moving toward mirrorless systems (e.g., Olympus OM-D series) or DSLRs with longer lenses. But for pure zoom range at a modest price in familiar Olympus styling, these remain solid choices.

Technical Details Wrap-Up: Our Testing Methodology

Testing these cameras involved shooting under varied lighting, subjects, and conditions personally on several occasions. I analyzed JPEGs for noise, color, detail, and dynamic range using Adobe Lightroom and compared autofocus responsiveness across daylight and dim environments.

Burst modes and continuous autofocus tracking were evaluated in wildlife parks and playgrounds to simulate real-world scenarios.

Video was tested handheld indoors and outdoors, including external microphone usage to grasp real usability.

Ergonomics and controls were judged by extended daily use, covering menu navigation, button reachability, and comfort for prolonged shooting sessions.

My experience covers thousands of cameras tested in studios and field alike across multiple continents, so trust that these findings reflect practical use.

In sum: The Olympus SH-1 impresses as a nimble, smart superzoom compact, while the SP-100 is the reach monster with classic controls. Knowing what you value makes this choice easier - both carry the Olympus hallmark of respectable image quality in their class, but in different packages for different photographers.

May your zoom be long, your images sharp, and your adventures rewarding!