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Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax WG-3

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
 
Pentax WG-3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax WG-3 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
  • Launched March 2015
  • Superseded the Olympus SH-1
  • Newer Model is Olympus SH-3
Pentax WG-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 230g - 124 x 64 x 33mm
  • Launched July 2013
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Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax WG-3 Overview

In this article, we will be reviewing the Olympus SH-2 and Pentax WG-3, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Waterproof by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SH-2 (16MP) and the WG-3 (16MP) is pretty close and they use the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SH-2 was launched 20 months later than the WG-3 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving through a in depth comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the SH-2 grades against the WG-3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Pentax WG-3

 SH-2 WG-3 
LaunchedMarch 2015July 2013More recent by 20 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Olympus SH-2

 WG-3 SH-2 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing

Common features in the Olympus SH-2 and Pentax WG-3

 SH-2 WG-3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Screen resolution460k460kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax WG-3 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus SH-2 has got physical dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) and the Pentax WG-3 has measurements of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).

Check the Olympus SH-2 and Pentax WG-3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at that time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the SH-2 versus the WG-3.

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax WG-3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SH-2 and WG-3 is 88 and 90 respectively.

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax WG-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax WG-3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements only by researching technical specs. The graphic below might give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SH-2 and WG-3.

As you can tell, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the identical megapixels therefore you can expect comparable quality of images though you may want to take the launch date of the cameras into account. The more modern SH-2 provides an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax WG-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-2 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax WG-3 as a Portrait photography camera
44
good megapixels (16MP)
provides face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
41
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SH-2
Street photography with Pentax WG-3
70
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
provides focus via touch
lighter than others in class (271 grams)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-2 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax WG-3 as a Sports photography camera
51
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (380 CIPA)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
45
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proof
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery pack (240 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-2 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax WG-3 as a Travel photography camera
74
better than average battery pack (380 CIPA)
lighter than others in class (271g)
provides focus via touch
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
does not offer selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
72
weather proof
good resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
low battery pack (240 CIPA)
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Landscape photography advice
Pentax WG-3 Landscape photography advice
55
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (380 shots)
manual focus not available
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
small sensor (1/2.3")
54
you can focus manually
relatively wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
weather proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
low battery pack (240 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-2 Vlogging features
Pentax WG-3 Vlogging features
35
relatively wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (271g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not offer selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone socket
36
relatively wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have a selfie friendly display
no external mic socket
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Olympus SH-2 vs Pentax WG-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-2 and Pentax WG-3
 Olympus Stylus SH-2Pentax WG-3
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus Stylus SH-2 Pentax WG-3
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Launched 2015-03-11 2013-07-19
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
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 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 125 125
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
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) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus distance 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 11.5fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 3.40 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 271 grams (0.60 lbs) 230 grams (0.51 lbs)
Dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 240 photographs
Type 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
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $399 $300