Olympus SH-1 vs Sony A37

In this article, we will be reviewing the Olympus SH-1 vs Sony A37, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SH-1 (16MP) and the A37 (16MP) is pretty comparable but the SH-1 (1/2.3") and A37 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor size.

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The SH-1 was released 23 months after the A37 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SH-1 being a Compact camera and the Sony A37 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving through a detailed comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the SH-1 grades versus the A37 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus Stylus SH-1 and Sony SLT-A37. The complete galleries are available at Olympus SH-1 Gallery and Sony A37 Gallery.

In case you're looking to carry around your camera, you will want to consider its weight and size. The Olympus SH-1 enjoys outside dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) while the Sony A37 has specifications of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 506 grams (1.12 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus SH-1 vs Sony A37 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you select at the time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the SH-1 compared to the A37.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SH-1 and A37 is 88 and 67 respectively.

In many cases, its tough to envision the difference in sensor sizes purely by checking out technical specs. The image here may give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-1 and A37.

As you can tell, both the cameras offer the same exact MP albeit not the same sensor sizes. The SH-1 comes with the smaller sensor which will make achieving shallower depth of field more difficult. The more recent SH-1 will have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.