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Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GX850

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX850 front
Portability
90
Imaging
55
Features
70
Overall
61

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GX850 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
  • Launched March 2015
  • Succeeded the Olympus SH-1
  • Later Model is Olympus SH-3
Panasonic GX850
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Released January 2017
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-GX800 / Lumix DMC-GF9
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Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GX850 Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GX850, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SH-2 (16MP) and the GX850 (16MP) is pretty similar but the SH-2 (1/2.3") and GX850 (Four Thirds) feature totally different sensor sizing.

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The SH-2 was introduced 22 months before the GX850 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SH-2 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GX850 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving in to a full comparison, below is a quick summation of how the SH-2 matches up versus the GX850 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Panasonic GX850

 SH-2 GX850 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GX850 over the Olympus SH-2

 GX850 SH-2 
ReleasedJanuary 2017March 2015More recent by 22 months
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k460kClearer screen (+580k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus SH-2 and Panasonic GX850

 SH-2 GX850 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GX850 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera, you are going to need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SH-2 provides outer dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) and the Panasonic GX850 has dimensions of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GX850 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using at the time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the SH-2 compared to the GX850.

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GX850 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SH-2 and GX850 is 88 and 90 respectively.

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GX850 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GX850 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's tough to visualise the difference between sensor measurements just by reviewing a spec sheet. The visual below will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-2 and GX850.

Clearly, both the cameras have got the exact same megapixel count albeit not the same sensor measurements. The SH-2 comes with the tinier sensor which will make getting bokeh trickier. The older SH-2 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GX850 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GX850 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GX850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SH-2
Portrait photography with Panasonic GX850
44
decent MP (16MP)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW files
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
66
has manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-2 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic GX850 as a Street photography camera
70
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
supports touch to focus
lighter than competitors in class (271g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
80
has a tilting screen
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
comes with touch focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SH-2
Sports photography with Panasonic GX850
51
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
better than average battery power (380 per charge)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
52
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
low max shutter speed (1/500 seconds)
lack of image stabilization
bad battery power (210 per charge)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic GX850 Travel photography highlights
74
better than average battery power (380 shots)
lighter than competitors in class (271g)
supports touch to focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
79
comes with touch focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
bad battery power (210 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-2 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic GX850 as a Landscape photography camera
55
rather wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (380 shots)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
71
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
no anti-alias filter
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
bad battery power (210 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Vlogging details
Panasonic GX850 Vlogging details
35
rather wide (25mm)
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (271 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic jack
73
display is selfie friendly
touch screen
offers face detect focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have mic socket
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Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic GX850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-2 and Panasonic GX850
 Olympus Stylus SH-2Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX850
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Stylus SH-2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX850
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-GX800 / Lumix DMC-GF9
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2015-03-11 2017-01-04
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII Venus Engine
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 16MP
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 25600
Min native ISO 125 200
RAW format
Min boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 49
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Available lenses - 107
Crop factor 5.8 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/500 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 11.5fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
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) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 60i / 17 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 20 Mbps, MP4, H.264
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 271 grams (0.60 pounds) 269 grams (0.59 pounds)
Dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 73
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.2
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 586
Other
Battery life 380 images 210 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2, 10 sec, 3 images/10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory microSD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $399 $548