Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic FX580

Its time to look more in depth at the Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic FX580, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a considerable difference among the image resolutions of the SH-2 (16MP) and FX580 (12MP) but both cameras have the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SH-2 was revealed 6 years later than the FX580 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go right into a full comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the SH-2 matches up vs the FX580 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus Stylus SH-2 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580. The full galleries are available at Olympus SH-2 Gallery & Panasonic FX580 Gallery.

If you're aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus SH-2 comes with outside measurements 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 FX580 has sizing of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic FX580 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are employing at that time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the SH-2 compared to the FX580.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the SH-2 and FX580 is 88 and 95 respectively.

In many cases, it can be tough to see the difference in sensor measurements simply by looking through technical specs. The photograph below should give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SH-2 and FX580.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras come with the identical sensor size but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Olympus SH-2 to result in more detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more modern SH-2 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.