Olympus SH-2 vs Sony NEX-3

Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus SH-2 versus Sony NEX-3, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SH-2 (16MP) and the NEX-3 (14MP) is very well matched but the SH-2 (1/2.3") and NEX-3 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor sizing.

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The SH-2 was brought out 4 years later than the NEX-3 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SH-2 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving through a detailed comparison, below is a short view of how the SH-2 matches up vs the NEX-3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus Stylus SH-2 & Sony Alpha NEX-3. The entire galleries are available at Olympus SH-2 Gallery & Sony NEX-3 Gallery.

If you're intending to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus SH-2 features physical measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3 has proportions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SH-2 versus Sony NEX-3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with at that time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the SH-2 versus the NEX-3.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the SH-2 and NEX-3 is 88 and 89 respectively.

In many cases, it's difficult to see the difference between sensor measurements simply by reading through specs. The graphic below should offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SH-2 and NEX-3.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The SH-2 due to its tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Olympus SH-2 will give you more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop pics a little more aggressively. The more modern SH-2 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.