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Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax K-x

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
 
Pentax K-x front
Portability
69
Imaging
52
Features
47
Overall
50

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax K-x 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
  • Old Model is Olympus SH-1
  • Later Model is Olympus SH-3
Pentax K-x
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Push to 12800)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 580g - 123 x 92 x 68mm
  • Introduced December 2009
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Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax K-x Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax K-x, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a considerable difference among the sensor resolutions of the SH-2 (16MP) and K-x (12MP) and the SH-2 (1/2.3") and K-x (APS-C) come with totally different sensor measurements.

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The SH-2 was revealed 5 years after the K-x which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SH-2 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-x being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise view of how the SH-2 matches up vs the K-x with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Pentax K-x

 SH-2 K-x 
IntroducedMarch 2015December 2009Newer by 64 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-x over the Olympus SH-2

 K-x SH-2 
Manually focus Dial precise focus

Common features in the Olympus SH-2 and Pentax K-x

 SH-2 K-x 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax K-x Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to travel with your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus SH-2 has got external dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) while the Pentax K-x has specifications of 123mm x 92mm x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax K-x in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the SH-2 and the K-x.

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax K-x size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the SH-2 and K-x is 88 and 69 respectively.

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax K-x top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax K-x Sensor Comparison

Usually, its hard to see the gap in sensor dimensions merely by checking out technical specs. The image below will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SH-2 and K-x.

As you can tell, both the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The SH-2 using its smaller sensor will make getting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Olympus SH-2 will provide extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos a little more aggressively. The more modern SH-2 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax K-x sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax K-x Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax K-x Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SH-2
Portrait photography with Pentax K-x
44
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
supports face detect focusing
supports RAW files
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
63
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Street photography advice
Pentax K-x Street photography advice
70
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
comes with focus by touch
lighter than competition (271 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-2 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-x as a Sports photography camera
51
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
better than average battery pack (380 CIPA)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
61
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
better than average battery (1,900 per charge)
comes with phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SH-2
Travel photography with Pentax K-x
74
better than average battery pack (380 CIPA)
lighter than competition (271 grams)
comes with focus by touch
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
54
better than average battery (1,900 shots)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-2 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-x as a Landscape photography camera
55
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (380 per charge)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
61
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (1,900 CIPA)
small screen (2.7")
low megapixels (12MP)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-x Vlogging highlights
35
quite wide (25mm)
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (271g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic port
27
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic socket
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Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax K-x Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-2 and Pentax K-x
 Olympus Stylus SH-2Pentax K-x
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus Stylus SH-2 Pentax K-x
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2015-03-11 2009-12-23
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII Prime
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 2848
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Highest boosted ISO - 12800
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Total lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting rate 11.5 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 16.00 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/180s
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 (24 fps), 640 x 416 (24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 271 grams (0.60 lb) 580 grams (1.28 lb)
Dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 123 x 92 x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 72
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.5
DXO Low light score not tested 811
Other
Battery life 380 photographs 1900 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC card
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $399 $600