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Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax MX-1 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
  • Released March 2015
  • Earlier Model is Olympus SH-1
  • Replacement is Olympus SH-3
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Revealed July 2013
Photography Glossary

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

On this page, we are evaluating the Olympus SH-2 and Pentax MX-1, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the SH-2 (16MP) and MX-1 (12MP) and the SH-2 (1/2.3") and MX-1 (1/1.7") boast different sensor sizing.

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The SH-2 was manufactured 21 months after the MX-1 making them a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the SH-2 grades against the MX-1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Pentax MX-1

 SH-2 MX-1 
RevealedMarch 2015July 2013More modern by 21 months
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Olympus SH-2

 MX-1 SH-2 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kSharper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SH-2 and Pentax MX-1

 SH-2 MX-1 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera, you need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus SH-2 offers physical measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) while the Pentax MX-1 has sizing of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") accompanied by a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SH-2 and Pentax MX-1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using at that moment. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the SH-2 compared to the MX-1.

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SH-2 and MX-1 is 88 and 84 respectively.

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes just by reading through specifications. The picture here should provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SH-2 and MX-1.

To sum up, both cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SH-2 due to its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Olympus SH-2 will give extra detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more modern SH-2 should have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Portrait photography details
Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography details
44
MP count good (16MP)
has face detection focusing
exports RAW files
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
42
you can focus manually
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
no external flash support
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SH-2
Street photography with Pentax MX-1
70
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
offers touch focus
lighter than competition in class (271g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
65
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
heavier than competitors in class (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-2 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Sports photography camera
51
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (380 CIPA)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
43
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (290 shots)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Travel photography factors
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography factors
74
better than average battery power (380 shots)
lighter than competition in class (271g)
offers touch focus
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.0)
61
better than average battery life (290 CIPA)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
missing Time Lapse recording
heavier than competitors in class (391 grams)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography highlights
55
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (380 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
55
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (290 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SH-2
Vlogging with Pentax MX-1
35
relatively wide (25mm)
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (271g)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
does not have external mic socket
33
reasonably wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing external mic socket
heavier than competitors in class (391g)
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Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-2 and Pentax MX-1
 Olympus Stylus SH-2Pentax MX-1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus Stylus SH-2 Pentax MX-1
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2015-03-11 2013-07-01
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing range 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 4.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 11.5 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 271g (0.60 lb) 391g (0.86 lb)
Physical dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 49
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 208
Other
Battery life 380 photos 290 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $399 $400