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Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GH2

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 front
Portability
70
Imaging
51
Features
65
Overall
56

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GH2 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
  • Introduced March 2015
  • Old Model is Olympus SH-1
  • New Model is Olympus SH-3
Panasonic GH2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 442g - 124 x 90 x 76mm
  • Announced March 2011
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GH1
  • Successor is Panasonic GH3
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Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GH2 Overview

Below is a detailed assessment of the Olympus SH-2 versus Panasonic GH2, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SH-2 (16MP) and the GH2 (16MP) is relatively close but the SH-2 (1/2.3") and GH2 (Four Thirds) offer different sensor size.

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The SH-2 was brought out 4 years later than the GH2 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus SH-2 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving into a thorough comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the SH-2 grades versus the GH2 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Panasonic GH2

 SH-2 GH2 
AnnouncedMarch 2015March 2011More recent by 49 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH2 over the Olympus SH-2

 GH2 SH-2 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus SH-2 and Panasonic GH2

 SH-2 GH2 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Screen resolution460k460kIdentical screen resolution
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GH2 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera, you'll have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus SH-2 comes with external 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 GH2 has specifications of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") having a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus SH-2 versus Panasonic GH2 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the SH-2 against the GH2.

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GH2 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SH-2 and GH2 is 88 and 70 respectively.

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GH2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GH2 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its tough to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements only by looking through specifications. The graphic below will help provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SH-2 and GH2.

Plainly, the 2 cameras have the same megapixels albeit different sensor measurements. The SH-2 features the smaller sensor which should make obtaining shallower DOF more challenging. The more modern SH-2 provides an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GH2 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GH2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GH2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Portrait photography information
Panasonic GH2 Portrait photography information
44
MP count decent (16MP)
has face detection focusing
supports RAW files
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
70
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Street photography info
Panasonic GH2 Street photography info
70
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
has touch focus
lighter than competitors in class (271g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
68
fully articulated screen
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Sports photography advice
Panasonic GH2 Sports photography advice
51
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
great battery pack (380 per charge)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
46
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
bad battery life (330 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic GH2 Travel photography highlights
74
great battery pack (380 per charge)
lighter than competitors in class (271g)
has touch focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
62
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
lack of Timelapse mode
bad battery life (330 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Landscape photography information
Panasonic GH2 Landscape photography information
55
rather wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (380 CIPA)
lack of manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
60
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
bad battery life (330 shots)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SH-2
Vlogging with Panasonic GH2
35
rather wide (25mm)
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (271g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone jack
71
selfie friendly screen
touch screen
features face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external microphone socket
no image stabilization
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Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GH2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-2 and Panasonic GH2
 Olympus Stylus SH-2Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Stylus SH-2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced 2015-03-11 2011-03-23
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
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
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 125 160
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 11.5fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 15.60 m
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 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 (24, 30, 60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 271 gr (0.60 lb) 442 gr (0.97 lb)
Physical dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 124 x 90 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 60
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.2
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.3
DXO Low light score not tested 655
Other
Battery life 380 photos 330 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail price $399 $1,000