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Olympus SH-2 vs Olympus TG-870

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43

Olympus SH-2 vs Olympus TG-870 Key Specs

Olympus SH-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Launched March 2015
  • Old Model is Olympus SH-1
  • Later Model is Olympus SH-3
Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Push to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2016
  • Superseded the Olympus TG-860
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Olympus SH-2 vs Olympus TG-870 Overview

On this page, we will be evaluating the Olympus SH-2 versus Olympus TG-870, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Ultracompact and they are both sold by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the SH-2 (16MP) and the TG-870 (16MP) is pretty comparable and both cameras boast the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SH-2 was unveiled 10 months earlier than the TG-870 so they are of a similar generation. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus SH-2 being a Compact camera and the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going into a thorough comparison, here is a quick view of how the SH-2 scores vs the TG-870 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Olympus TG-870

 SH-2 TG-870 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Olympus SH-2

 TG-870 SH-2 
LaunchedJanuary 2016March 2015More modern by 10 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SH-2 and Olympus TG-870

 SH-2 TG-870 
Focus manually No manual focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus SH-2 vs Olympus TG-870 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera, you have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SH-2 provides outer measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) and the Olympus TG-870 has dimensions of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") with a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SH-2 versus Olympus TG-870 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the SH-2 versus the TG-870.

Olympus SH-2 vs Olympus TG-870 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the SH-2 and TG-870 is 88 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SH-2 vs Olympus TG-870 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Olympus TG-870 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to see the contrast in sensor sizes simply by seeing a spec sheet. The picture below will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the SH-2 and TG-870.

As you can see, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the exact same MP so you should expect comparable quality of photographs although you really should factor the release date of the cameras into account. The more aged SH-2 will be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus SH-2 vs Olympus TG-870 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-2 vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus TG-870 Portrait photography highlights
44
good MP (16MP)
has face detect focus
supports RAW formats
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
36
good resolution (16 megapixels)
supports face detect autofocus
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-2 as a Street photography camera
Olympus TG-870 as a Street photography camera
70
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
offers touch focus
lighter than competitors in class (271 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
65
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
heavier than others (221 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-2 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus TG-870 as a Sports photography camera
51
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
good battery pack (380 per charge)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
51
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
supports tracking focus
weather proof
better than average battery life (300 shots)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Travel photography advice
Olympus TG-870 Travel photography advice
74
good battery pack (380 shots)
lighter than competitors in class (271 grams)
offers touch focus
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
69
better than average battery life (300 per charge)
weather proof
good resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (21mm)
heavier than others (221g)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-2 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus TG-870 as a Landscape photography camera
55
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (380 shots)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
50
quite wide (21mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
weather proof
better than average battery life (300 CIPA)
no manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Vlogging advice
Olympus TG-870 Vlogging advice
35
quite wide (25mm)
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (271g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone jack
32
quite wide (21mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have mic support
heavier than others (221g)
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Olympus SH-2 vs Olympus TG-870 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-2 and Olympus TG-870
 Olympus Stylus SH-2Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus Stylus SH-2 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Launched 2015-03-11 2016-01-06
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII TruePic VII
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Max enhanced ISO - 12800
Min native ISO 125 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 21-105mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-5.7
Macro focus range 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 11.5fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 4.00 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
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 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 271 gr (0.60 lbs) 221 gr (0.49 lbs)
Physical dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1")
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 photos 300 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B Li-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $399 $280