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Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax 645Z 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
  • Earlier Model is Olympus SH-1
  • Refreshed by Olympus SH-3
Pentax 645Z
(Full Review)
  • 51MP - Medium format Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax 645AF2 Mount
  • 1550g - 156 x 117 x 123mm
  • Released April 2014
  • Succeeded the Pentax 645D
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Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

In this article, we are contrasting the Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax 645Z, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Pro DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There exists a crucial gap among the sensor resolutions of the SH-2 (16MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the SH-2 (1/2.3") and 645Z (Medium format) use totally different sensor measurements.

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The SH-2 was introduced 11 months after the 645Z and they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SH-2 being a Compact camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before getting in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a short introduction of how the SH-2 scores versus the 645Z with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Pentax 645Z

 SH-2 645Z 
ReleasedMarch 2015April 2014More modern by 11 months
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Olympus SH-2

 645Z SH-2 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k460kSharper display (+577k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SH-2 and Pentax 645Z

 SH-2 645Z 
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus SH-2 has external dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) whilst the Pentax 645Z has proportions of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") with a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax 645Z in the 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 have attached during that time. Following is the front view size comparison of the SH-2 versus the 645Z.

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SH-2 and 645Z is 88 and 49 respectively.

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is hard to see the difference in sensor sizes only by looking through technical specs. The pic here might provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SH-2 and 645Z.

As you have seen, each of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SH-2 with its smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh more difficult and the Pentax 645Z will provide you with extra detail using its extra 35 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The younger SH-2 will have an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Portrait photography info
Pentax 645Z Portrait photography info
44
good MP (16 megapixels)
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
manual focus not available
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
88
manual focus
fantastic MP (51MP)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Street photography features
Pentax 645Z Street photography features
70
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
comes with touch to focus
lighter than others in class (271 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
63
screen tilts
sensor size is large (Medium format)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
good high ISO (204,800)
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than average (1,550g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Sports photography advice
Pentax 645Z Sports photography advice
51
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
great battery life (380 per charge)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
71
fantastic MP (51MP)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
supports phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
bad battery power (650 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SH-2
Travel photography with Pentax 645Z
74
great battery life (380 shots)
lighter than others in class (271 grams)
comes with touch to focus
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
51
weather sealing
fantastic MP (51MP)
bad battery power (650 per charge)
more heavy than average (1,550 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax 645Z Landscape photography highlights
55
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (380 CIPA)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
78
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2")
fantastic MP (51 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Medium format)
does not have low pass filter
good high ISO (204,800)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
has dual storage slots
lack of image stabilization
bad battery power (650 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Vlogging highlights
Pentax 645Z Vlogging highlights
35
fairly wide (25mm)
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (271g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
no microphone port
27
offers face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with microphone jack
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than average (1,550 grams)
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Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-2 and Pentax 645Z
 Olympus Stylus SH-2Pentax 645Z
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus Stylus SH-2 Pentax 645Z
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Pro DSLR
Launched 2015-03-11 2014-04-15
Body design Compact Large SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII PRIME III
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Medium format
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 51 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 8256 x 6192
Maximum native ISO 6400 204800
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 27
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax 645AF2
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Available lenses - 6
Crop factor 5.8 0.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3.2 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 11.5 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Flash On, Flash On+Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync+Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, contrast-control-sync, high-speed sync, wireless sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/125s
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) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p,24p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 271g (0.60 lb) 1550g (3.42 lb)
Dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 101
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 26.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 4505
Other
Battery life 380 images 650 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Storage slots Single Two
Pricing at launch $399 $5,024