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Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GF3

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GF3 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
  • Announced March 2015
  • Superseded the Olympus SH-1
  • Newer Model is Olympus SH-3
Panasonic GF3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 264g - 108 x 67 x 32mm
  • Released August 2011
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF2
  • Later Model is Panasonic GF5
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Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GF3 Overview

Lets look a little more in depth at the Olympus SH-2 and Panasonic GF3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the SH-2 (16MP) and GF3 (12MP) and the SH-2 (1/2.3") and GF3 (Four Thirds) possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SH-2 was launched 3 years later than the GF3 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SH-2 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the SH-2 scores against the GF3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Panasonic GF3

 SH-2 GF3 
ReleasedMarch 2015August 2011Fresher by 44 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Olympus SH-2

 GF3 SH-2 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing

Common features in the Olympus SH-2 and Panasonic GF3

 SH-2 GF3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Display resolution460k460kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GF3 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus SH-2 offers external dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) while the Panasonic GF3 has measurements of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs).

See the Olympus SH-2 and Panasonic GF3 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using at that time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the SH-2 against the GF3.

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GF3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SH-2 and GF3 is 88 and 90 respectively.

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GF3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GF3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to visualise the difference in sensor sizing purely by seeing a spec sheet. The graphic underneath should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-2 and GF3.

As you can see, the 2 cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The SH-2 because of its smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF tougher and the Olympus SH-2 will produce extra detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The more modern SH-2 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GF3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GF3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GF3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SH-2
Portrait photography with Panasonic GF3
44
megapixel count decent (16MP)
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW files
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
55
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
saves RAW formats
no external flash support
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Street photography features
Panasonic GF3 Street photography features
70
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
includes focus by touch
lighter than competition in class (271 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
70
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
features focus by touch
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Sports photography factors
Panasonic GF3 Sports photography factors
51
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (380 shots)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
38
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
low battery (300 CIPA)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-2 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic GF3 as a Travel photography camera
74
better than average battery pack (380 shots)
lighter than competition in class (271 grams)
includes focus by touch
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
58
features focus by touch
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
low battery (300 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Landscape photography details
Panasonic GF3 Landscape photography details
55
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (380 shots)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
55
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
low battery (300 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Vlogging features
Panasonic GF3 Vlogging features
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (271g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of external microphone jack
32
touchscreen
offers face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
lack of external mic jack
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Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GF3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-2 and Panasonic GF3
 Olympus Stylus SH-2Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Stylus SH-2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2015-03-11 2011-08-11
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 125 160
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Number of lenses - 107
Crop factor 5.8 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 11.5 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 6.30 m
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 271g (0.60 lbs) 264g (0.58 lbs)
Dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 50
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 459
Other
Battery life 380 photographs 300 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $399 $360