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Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic G3

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 front
Portability
83
Imaging
51
Features
62
Overall
55

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic G3 Key Specs

Olympus SH-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Released March 2015
  • Earlier Model is Olympus SH-1
  • Renewed by Olympus SH-3
Panasonic G3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 336g - 115 x 84 x 47mm
  • Launched July 2011
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic G2
  • New Model is Panasonic G5
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Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic G3 Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Olympus SH-2 versus Panasonic G3, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SH-2 (16MP) and the G3 (16MP) is relatively similar but the SH-2 (1/2.3") and G3 (Four Thirds) boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The SH-2 was brought out 3 years later than the G3 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SH-2 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic G3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a detailed comparison, here is a quick view of how the SH-2 scores versus the G3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Panasonic G3

 SH-2 G3 
LaunchedMarch 2015July 2011More recent by 45 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic G3 over the Olympus SH-2

 G3 SH-2 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus SH-2 and Panasonic G3

 SH-2 G3 
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Screen resolution460k460kSame screen resolution
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic G3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SH-2 has exterior dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) while the Panasonic G3 has dimensions of 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") and a weight of 336 grams (0.74 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SH-2 versus Panasonic G3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have attached at that time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the SH-2 against the G3.

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic G3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SH-2 and G3 is 88 and 83 respectively.

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic G3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic G3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to visualise the gap between sensor measurements merely by reviewing specifications. The graphic below might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SH-2 and G3.

To sum up, each of the cameras come with the identical megapixels albeit not the same sensor measurements. The SH-2 features the tinier sensor which is going to make getting shallower DOF harder. The fresher SH-2 will have an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic G3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic G3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic G3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Portrait photography information
Panasonic G3 Portrait photography information
44
megapixel count decent (16MP)
includes face detect focusing
exports RAW files
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
70
manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SH-2
Street photography with Panasonic G3
70
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
boasts touch to focus
lighter than others in class (271g)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
75
screen can move to multiple angles
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
supports focus via touch
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SH-2
Sports photography with Panasonic G3
51
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
good battery power (380 shots)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
46
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery power (270 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Travel photography advice
Panasonic G3 Travel photography advice
74
good battery power (380 CIPA)
lighter than others in class (271 grams)
boasts touch to focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
70
supports focus via touch
decent MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
no Time Lapse function
not so great battery power (270 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic G3 Landscape photography highlights
55
really wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
exports RAW files
good battery power (380 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
62
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery power (270 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Vlogging information
Panasonic G3 Vlogging information
35
really wide (25mm)
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others in class (271g)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no microphone port
70
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
supports face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lack of image stabilization
no mic jack
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Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic G3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-2 and Panasonic G3
 Olympus Stylus SH-2Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Stylus SH-2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2015-03-11 2011-07-11
Body design Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3448
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 125 160
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Total lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 11.5 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 11.00 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps))
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 271 gr (0.60 lbs) 336 gr (0.74 lbs)
Physical dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 115 x 84 x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 56
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 667
Other
Battery life 380 pictures 270 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $399 $500