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Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic SZ5

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic SZ5 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
  • Introduced March 2015
  • Replaced the Olympus SH-1
  • Replacement is Olympus SH-3
Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Introduced July 2012
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Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic SZ5 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Olympus SH-2 and Panasonic SZ5, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SH-2 (16MP) and the SZ5 (14MP) is fairly well matched and both cameras have the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SH-2 was announced 2 years later than the SZ5 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a quick view of how the SH-2 matches up against the SZ5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Panasonic SZ5

 SH-2 SZ5 
IntroducedMarch 2015July 2012More recent by 33 months
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Olympus SH-2

 SZ5 SH-2 

Common features in the Olympus SH-2 and Panasonic SZ5

 SH-2 SZ5 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic SZ5 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus SH-2 features physical dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ5 has measurements of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SH-2 and Panasonic SZ5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is a front view size comparison of the SH-2 vs the SZ5.

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic SZ5 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SH-2 and SZ5 is 88 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic SZ5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to visualize the difference between sensor measurements just by checking specifications. The photograph here might provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-2 and SZ5.

To sum up, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You can anticipate the Olympus SH-2 to give more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more modern SH-2 should have an advantage in sensor technology.

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic SZ5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic SZ5 Portrait photography highlights
44
good megapixels (16MP)
provides face detection focusing
supports RAW files
no manual focus
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
34
decent megapixels (14MP)
has face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Street photography information
Panasonic SZ5 Street photography information
70
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
provides touch to focus
lighter than competition in class (271g)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (136 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Sports photography advice
Panasonic SZ5 Sports photography advice
51
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
great battery pack (380 shots)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic SZ5 Travel photography highlights
74
great battery pack (380 CIPA)
lighter than competition in class (271 grams)
provides touch to focus
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
70
lighter than competition (136g)
decent megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic SZ5 Landscape photography advice
55
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (380 per charge)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
42
rather wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual exposure
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SH-2
Vlogging with Panasonic SZ5
35
fairly wide (25mm)
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (271 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not have a selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone support
32
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
lighter than competition (136 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic port
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Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic SZ5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-2 and Panasonic SZ5
 Olympus Stylus SH-2Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Stylus SH-2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2015-03-11 2012-07-18
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
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 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing distance 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 8s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 11.5 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 5.60 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264 MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 271 gr (0.60 pounds) 136 gr (0.30 pounds)
Physical dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 380 photos 250 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $399 $195