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Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax W90

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
 
Pentax Optio W90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax W90 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
  • Revealed March 2015
  • Old Model is Olympus SH-1
  • Later Model is Olympus SH-3
Pentax W90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 164g - 108 x 59 x 25mm
  • Released February 2010
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Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax W90 Overview

Below is a extended comparison of the Olympus SH-2 and Pentax W90, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Waterproof by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap between the resolutions of the SH-2 (16MP) and W90 (12MP) but they use the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SH-2 was revealed 5 years later than the W90 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go in to a detailed comparison, below is a brief summary of how the SH-2 grades versus the W90 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Pentax W90

 SH-2 W90 
ReleasedMarch 2015February 2010More recent by 62 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax W90 over the Olympus SH-2

 W90 SH-2 
Manually focus Very accurate focus

Common features in the Olympus SH-2 and Pentax W90

 SH-2 W90 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax W90 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SH-2 has outside dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) whilst the Pentax W90 has dimensions of 108mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") and a weight of 164 grams (0.36 lbs).

See the Olympus SH-2 and Pentax W90 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the SH-2 compared to the W90.

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax W90 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SH-2 and W90 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax W90 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax W90 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is hard to see the difference between sensor measurements only by reviewing technical specs. The photograph below will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SH-2 and W90.

As you have seen, each of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You should expect the Olympus SH-2 to offer you more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The younger SH-2 will have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax W90 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax W90 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax W90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Portrait photography information
Pentax W90 Portrait photography information
44
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
features face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
no manual focus
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
27
focusing manually
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SH-2
Street photography with Pentax W90
70
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
includes focus by touch
lighter than competitors in class (271 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
54
environment sealing
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Sports photography highlights
Pentax W90 Sports photography highlights
51
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
good battery life (380 CIPA)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
24
environment sealing
slow fps (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SH-2
Travel photography with Pentax W90
74
good battery life (380 per charge)
lighter than competitors in class (271 grams)
includes focus by touch
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
64
environment sealing
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Landscape photography advice
Pentax W90 Landscape photography advice
55
really wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
delivers RAW files
good battery life (380 shots)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
37
focusing manually
fairly wide (28mm)
environment sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not available
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Vlogging features
Pentax W90 Vlogging features
35
really wide (25mm)
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (271 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic port
25
fairly wide (28mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic support
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Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax W90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-2 and Pentax W90
 Olympus Stylus SH-2Pentax Optio W90
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus Stylus SH-2 Pentax Optio W90
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Revealed 2015-03-11 2010-02-24
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Prime
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 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 125 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
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" 2.7"
Display resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1500s
Continuous shooting rate 11.5 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB 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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 271 gr (0.60 lb) 164 gr (0.36 lb)
Dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 108 x 59 x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0")
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 pictures -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-92B D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail cost $399 $120