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Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax RS1500 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
  • Released March 2015
  • Previous Model is Olympus SH-1
  • Successor is Olympus SH-3
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Revealed March 2011
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Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax RS1500, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SH-2 (16MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is pretty similar and both cameras posses the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SH-2 was introduced 4 years later than the RS1500 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a complete comparison, here is a concise summary of how the SH-2 scores against the RS1500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Pentax RS1500

 SH-2 RS1500 
RevealedMarch 2015March 2011Fresher by 49 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Olympus SH-2

 RS1500 SH-2 
Manual focus More accurate focus

Common features in the Olympus SH-2 and Pentax RS1500

 SH-2 RS1500 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry your camera often, you're going to have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus SH-2 enjoys exterior 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) whilst the Pentax RS1500 has sizing of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax RS1500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the SH-2 vs the RS1500.

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SH-2 and RS1500 is 88 and 93 respectively.

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizing simply by reading specifications. The photograph underneath might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SH-2 and RS1500.

Plainly, both the cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Olympus SH-2 to offer you extra detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots way more aggressively. The newer SH-2 provides an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Portrait photography details
Pentax RS1500 Portrait photography details
44
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has face detect focus
saves RAW files
manual focus not available
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
35
focusing manually
MP count good (14 megapixels)
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SH-2
Street photography with Pentax RS1500
70
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
has focus by touch
lighter than competition (271 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
54
environment sealing
no moving screen
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Sports photography info
Pentax RS1500 Sports photography info
51
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
good battery (380 shots)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
37
MP count good (14 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
environment sealing
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Travel photography advice
Pentax RS1500 Travel photography advice
74
good battery (380 per charge)
lighter than competition (271 grams)
has focus by touch
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
67
environment sealing
MP count good (14MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-2 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Landscape photography camera
55
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
saves RAW files
good battery (380 shots)
manual focus not available
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
small sensor (1/2.3")
40
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
environment sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Vlogging highlights
Pentax RS1500 Vlogging highlights
35
relatively wide (25mm)
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (271 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
does not have mic socket
25
quite wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic socket
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Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-2 and Pentax RS1500
 Olympus Stylus SH-2Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus Stylus SH-2 Pentax Optio RS1500
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2015-03-11 2011-03-16
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 125 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-110mm (3.9x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shooting rate 11.5 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum 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 271g (0.60 lbs) 157g (0.35 lbs)
Physical dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photographs 260 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $399 $150