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Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZR1

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZR1 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
  • Previous Model is Olympus SH-1
  • Updated by Olympus SH-3
Panasonic ZR1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Introduced July 2009
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-ZX1
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Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZR1 Overview

Following is a extensive assessment of the Olympus SH-2 and Panasonic ZR1, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a huge difference between the image resolutions of the SH-2 (16MP) and ZR1 (12MP) but they feature the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SH-2 was unveiled 5 years after the ZR1 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a more detailed comparison, below is a brief summary of how the SH-2 scores versus the ZR1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Panasonic ZR1

 SH-2 ZR1 
IntroducedMarch 2015July 2009More modern by 69 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR1 over the Olympus SH-2

 ZR1 SH-2 

Common features in the Olympus SH-2 and Panasonic ZR1

 SH-2 ZR1 
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZR1 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and size. The Olympus SH-2 features external measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) and the Panasonic ZR1 has specifications of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") and a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SH-2 and Panasonic ZR1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using at the time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the SH-2 vs the ZR1.

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZR1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the SH-2 and ZR1 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZR1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZR1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizes simply by going over a spec sheet. The pic underneath might give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SH-2 and ZR1.

As you can see, both cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Olympus SH-2 to deliver extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The fresher SH-2 should have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZR1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Portrait photography information
Panasonic ZR1 Portrait photography information
44
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW files
no manual focus
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
21
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Street photography features
Panasonic ZR1 Street photography features
70
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
has touch focus
lighter than competitors in class (271g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SH-2
Sports photography with Panasonic ZR1
51
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
good battery pack (380 shots)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
25
image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Travel photography details
Panasonic ZR1 Travel photography details
74
good battery pack (380 shots)
lighter than competitors in class (271g)
has touch focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
57
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
low megapixels (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SH-2
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZR1
55
rather wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
supports RAW files
good battery pack (380 shots)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
32
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-2 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZR1 as a Vlogging camera
35
rather wide (25mm)
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (271g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone socket
28
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone jack
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Olympus SH-2 vs Panasonic ZR1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-2 and Panasonic ZR1
 Olympus Stylus SH-2Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Stylus SH-2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
Alternative name - Lumix DMC-ZX1
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2015-03-11 2009-07-27
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII Venus Engine V
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 125 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-200mm (8.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance 3cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 11.5 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 5.10 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 271g (0.60 pounds) 158g (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 380 photos -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $399 $280