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Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic S2

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
53
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34

Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic S2 Key Specs

Olympus SH-1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Revealed March 2014
  • Successor is Olympus SH-2
Panasonic S2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 112g - 98 x 57 x 21mm
  • Announced January 2012
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Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic S2 Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic S2, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SH-1 (16MP) and the S2 (14MP) is pretty comparable and both cameras have the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SH-1 was released 2 years after the S2 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the SH-1 matches up against the S2 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-1 over the Panasonic S2

 SH-1 S2 
AnnouncedMarch 2014January 2012More modern by 28 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic S2 over the Olympus SH-1

 S2 SH-1 

Common features in the Olympus SH-1 and Panasonic S2

 SH-1 S2 
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic S2 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus SH-1 has got exterior dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) and the Panasonic S2 has measurements of 98mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 112 grams (0.25 lbs).

See the Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic S2 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using at that moment. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the SH-1 and the S2.

Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic S2 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the SH-1 and S2 is 88 and 96 respectively.

Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic S2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic S2 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizes simply by going through specs. The picture here should offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-1 and S2.

All in all, both of those cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You can expect the Olympus SH-1 to produce more detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots more aggressively. The more modern SH-1 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic S2 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-1 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic S2 as a Portrait photography camera
37
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
features face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
34
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
supports face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SH-1
Street photography with Panasonic S2
64
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has focus via touch
lighter than average in class (271g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (112 grams)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SH-1
Sports photography with Panasonic S2
51
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
great battery life (380 shots)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
great battery pack (280 shots)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-1 Travel photography advice
Panasonic S2 Travel photography advice
74
great battery life (380 CIPA)
lighter than average in class (271g)
has focus via touch
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
71
great battery pack (280 shots)
lighter than others (112 grams)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-1 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic S2 Landscape photography advice
49
really wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
great battery life (380 shots)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
41
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
great battery pack (280 per charge)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7 inch)
no manual control
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SH-1
Vlogging with Panasonic S2
37
really wide (25mm)
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external mic jack
lighter than average in class (271 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not have selfie friendly screen
33
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
lighter than others (112g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone jack
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Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-1 and Panasonic S2
 Olympus Stylus SH-1Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Stylus SH-1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2014-03-31 2012-01-09
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII -
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 surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 23
Cross focus points - -
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/3.1-6.5
Macro focus range 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 8 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 12.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 3.30 m
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 271 grams (0.60 pounds) 112 grams (0.25 pounds)
Physical dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 98 x 57 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 380 shots 280 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $349 $109