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Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax K-3 II

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
 
Pentax K-3 II front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax K-3 II 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
  • Superseded the Olympus SH-1
  • Replacement is Olympus SH-3
Pentax K-3 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Announced April 2015
  • Superseded the Pentax K-3
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Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax K-3 II Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax K-3 II, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap between the resolutions of the SH-2 (16MP) and K-3 II (24MP) and the SH-2 (1/2.3") and K-3 II (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The SH-2 was unveiled at a similar time to the K-3 II which means that they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SH-2 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving in to a in depth comparison, below is a simple view of how the SH-2 matches up vs the K-3 II in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Pentax K-3 II

 SH-2 K-3 II 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Olympus SH-2

 K-3 II SH-2 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen dimension3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k460kCrisper screen (+577k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SH-2 and Pentax K-3 II

 SH-2 K-3 II 
AnnouncedMarch 2015April 2015Similar age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax K-3 II Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus SH-2 offers physical 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) whilst the Pentax K-3 II has measurements of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax K-3 II in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are employing during that time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the SH-2 against the K-3 II.

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax K-3 II size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SH-2 and K-3 II is 88 and 59 respectively.

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax K-3 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to see the contrast between sensor sizes simply by reading through a spec sheet. The picture below will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-2 and K-3 II.

Clearly, both cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SH-2 using its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Pentax K-3 II will give more detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures much more aggressively.

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax K-3 II sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-3 II Portrait photography info
44
good resolution (16MP)
provides face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
79
manual focus
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Street photography features
Pentax K-3 II Street photography features
70
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
has touch focus
lighter than competition in class (271g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
good ISO range (51,200)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-3 II Sports photography advice
51
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
provides tracking focus
good battery (380 per charge)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect autofocus
terrible battery life (720 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-3 II Travel photography factors
74
good battery (380 shots)
lighter than competition in class (271 grams)
has touch focus
good resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
56
weather proofing
megapixel count good (24MP)
terrible battery life (720 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Landscape photography details
Pentax K-3 II Landscape photography details
55
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
saves RAW files
good battery (380 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
78
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
good ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
has dual storage slots
terrible battery life (720 per charge)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SH-2
Vlogging with Pentax K-3 II
35
quite wide (25mm)
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (271g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
does not have mic jack
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external microphone jack
display is not selfie friendly
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Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax K-3 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-2 and Pentax K-3 II
 Olympus Stylus SH-2Pentax K-3 II
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus Stylus SH-2 Pentax K-3 II
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2015-03-11 2015-04-23
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII Prime III
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 6016 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 51200
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of display 460k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 11.5 frames per second 8.3 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, 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 (available with dedicated external flash)
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180s
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) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 271 grams (0.60 lbs) 800 grams (1.76 lbs)
Dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 80
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 1106
Other
Battery life 380 photos 720 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Two
Cost at release $399 $829