Olympus SH-2 vs Sony H300: An Expert’s Take on Two Compact Superzooms

When scouting for an affordable superzoom camera, the Olympus Stylus SH-2 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H300 surface frequently on shopper radar. Both launched in the mid-2010s with an eye on travel, casual wildlife shots, and the “I want crazy zoom but don’t want to lug a DSLR” crowd, these small sensor superzooms promise versatility at an accessible price point. But as someone who’s spent years putting cameras through their paces - from outdoor adventures to studio shoots - I know specs don’t always tell the whole story.

So bear with me as we unpack these two contenders side-by-side, relying on hands-on experience, technical insights, and real-world performance. Whether you’re intrigued by Olympus’ TruePic VII processing or Sony’s massive 35x zoom range, this comparison will sift fact from fluff and help you find your ideal photographic partner.

Compact quirkiness vs bridge bulk - Olympus SH-2 (271g) and Sony H300 (590g) side by side

Size, Build & Ergonomics: Pocketable or Brick?

First impressions count - and with cameras, size is often a dealbreaker. The Olympus SH-2 sports a petite compact body at 109 x 63 x 42 mm and an ultra-light 271 grams. Holding it feels almost like clutching a large point-and-shoot or a thick smartphone, which is a blessing if portability and discretion matter - think street photography or spontaneous snaps on your commute.

The Sony H300, by contrast, fully embraces the ‘bridge camera’ aesthetic, mimicking an SLR with its hefty plastic chassis. At a chunky 130 x 95 x 122 mm and 590 grams, it’s more noticeable in your hand or bag. It’s less about subtlety and more about presence. Need something you can easily grab for extended wildlife hikes? The extra weight might drag you down, but it also gives a solid grip for longer telephoto shots.

Neither camera features weather sealing - not exactly a surprise in this price bracket - but if you’re shooting outdoors frequently, Olympus’ lighter design edges out Sony when comfort and handling count.

Top controls: Olympus SH-2’s streamlined buttons versus Sony H300’s DSLR-style dials

Regarding control layouts, Olympus’s SH-2 impresses with simplicity and some welcome modern touches - a touchscreen LCD that’s rare at this level, which helped me quickly navigate menus (more on that later). Manual exposure is technically supported but tucked away, making it semi-pro friendly for enthusiasts experimenting beyond auto modes.

Sony’s H300 goes for classic DSLR-like dials with physical buttons for exposure compensation and basic exposure modes. However, this does not make it more flexible - its manual exposure implementation is quite barebones. The absence of touchscreen means more menu digging, which can feel on the clumsy side when you need to change settings quickly.

Sensor and Image Quality: APS-C Dreams Deferred

Both cameras utilize the same small 1/2.3” sensor size with nearly identical surface areas of roughly 28 mm², but their sensor technologies deviate: Olympus opts for a 16MP BSI-CMOS sensor, while Sony turns to a 20MP CCD sensor.

The key takeaway? The Olympus SH-2’s Backside Illuminated CMOS sensor better handles noise and low light, thanks to improved light-gathering efficiency - a feature you won’t spot just by looking but definitely notice when tossing both cameras into shadows or dusk scenarios. The CCD in Sony’s H300, while delivering higher megapixels (20MP vs 16MP), struggles more in low light due to its older sensor technology, resulting in a noisier image beyond ISO 800.

My lab tests and field shoots bear this out: SH-2 images maintain cleaner shadows and more natural color gradations at higher ISOs. The Olympus also supports RAW capture - a huge advantage for enthusiasts wanting to tweak exposures and colors extensively - while the Sony H300 sadly locks you into JPEG only, limiting post-processing flexibility.

In terms of resolution, Sony’s 20MP sensor offers marginally more detail at base ISO under perfect lighting - but that advantage narrows quickly as light wanes.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: Speed vs Consistency

Let’s talk about autofocus speed and responsiveness as these superzooms have notably different systems that directly affect usability.

The SH-2 uses a contrast-detection AF system enhanced with face detection and continuous autofocus. Thanks to the modern TruePic VII processor, autofocus is relatively snappy and accurate - especially in good lighting and for stationary subjects.

The Sony H300 also employs contrast detection but without touch AF or continuous mode during video. Additionally, it allows AF tracking only in single (not continuous) mode. What this means practically is that SH-2 is better suited to keeping focus on moving subjects, making it preferable for casual wildlife or sports snapshots. Sony’s H300 feels sluggish by comparison, with hunt and peck AF in low light or fast action scenarios.

Sony’s burst shooting rate is also limited to a sluggish 1 fps - a pace barely enough for simple moments - while Olympus’s 11.5 fps is surprisingly fast for a compact of its class, useful for capturing fleeting wildlife or kids in motion.

Zoom Range & Lens Features: Olympus’s 24x vs Sony’s Monster 35x

Arguably, the biggest real-world appeal of both is their superzoom versatility, lending a flexible shooting experience from wide-angle landscapes to monster telephoto wildlife.

Here’s the catch: Sony H300 packs a whopping 35x zoom (25-875mm equivalent), extending well beyond the SH-2’s 24x zoom (25-600mm). On paper, this makes the Sony a tempting option for extreme telephoto reach.

But - and this is where my fieldwork teaches a critical lesson - extreme zoom ranges on small sensors often come at a price in image quality and stabilization. Olympus’s sensor-shift image stabilization provides a slight advantage over Sony’s optical system, especially handheld at the long end where every bit of shake is magnified. Images on the SH-2 come out noticeably steadier at 600mm equivalent, and while the Sony extends to 875mm, the image softness and jumpy autofocus at that reach hold it back.

Plus, the Olympus macro focus range of 3 cm brings it closer to subjects than Sony’s unspecified macro limits - giving it a leg up for close-up detail shots.

Playback and User Interface: Touchscreen vs Traditional LCD

Both cameras offer fixed 3-inch displays with roughly 460k-dot resolution, but Olympus equips its SH-2 with a touchscreen, whereas Sony retains traditional button-based navigation on the H300.

I must confess: the touchscreen on the SH-2 dramatically improves usability. I could tap to focus in live view and swipe through images faster during playback. Meanwhile, the Sony’s non-touch Clear Photo LCD feels a bit dated and less intuitive.

Neither camera has an electronic viewfinder in the modern sense, though Sony offers a low-res EVF that's more of a backup tool than a primary composing aid. Olympus relies solely on the rear LCD, which - again - makes field visibility tricky under bright sun.

Video Capabilities: Quick and Simple vs Basic HD

The SH-2 records full HD 1080p video up to 60fps with H.264 compression and incorporates sensor-shift stabilization, which translates to smoother footage. It lacks a microphone port or headphone jack, limiting professional audio control, but for casual video capture, it outperforms many compacts of its era.

Sony’s H300 maxes out at 720p HD video at 30fps, and without optical stabilization during video mode, handheld footage tends to be shake-prone and less sharp.

Overall, Olympus delivers more versatile video performance despite limited pro features, making it the better choice for vloggers or travelers dabbling in movie mode.

Battery Life and Storage: Close Enough?

Olympus rates the SH-2 for about 380 shots per charge - impressive for a compact with live view and fast burst. The Sony H300 roughly matches at ~350 shots, a difference I found negligible in real use.

Both cameras use proprietary lithium-ion Battery Packs but differ in models - SH-2 uses the LI-92B. Recharge time and available spares might influence users, so check local availability.

Storage-wise, Olympus lets you choose SD, SDHC, or SDXC cards (including its internal memory), while Sony adds Memory Stick compatibility - a fringe feature nowadays but potentially useful for those locked into Sony’s ecosystem.

How Do They Handle Different Photography Genres?

Let’s break down how each camera fares across popular photographic disciplines, stitching together specs with practical experience.

Olympus SH 2 front Olympus SH 2 screen back Sony H300 front Sony H300 screen back

Portrait Photography

Olympus SH-2’s superior face detection autofocus - coupled with its better low light noise handling - renders smoother skin tones and dependable bokeh compared to Sony’s harsher JPEG output and noisier sensor performance. That said, the SH-2’s maximum aperture of f/3.0-6.9 is modest, so don’t expect creamy backgrounds like a prime lens. The Sony’s f/3.0-5.9 is slightly faster at the tele end, but image noise hampers subtle facial details.

Landscape Photography

Both cameras’ small sensors limit dynamic range compared to APS-C or full-frame brethren. Yet Olympus’s CMOS sensor delivers richer tonal gradations and marginally better shadow retention. Sony gives you a slight edge in megapixels - 20MP vs 16MP - but the tradeoff is tougher noise control, especially in shaded scenes.

Optically, Sony’s wider focal length range (up to 875mm) is less useful here; landscape shooters usually prefer the wide to mid-telephoto range where Olympus’s versatility excels. Neither model offers weather sealing, so rain or dust needs caution.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Burst shooting and autofocus speed favor Olympus heavily. Its 11.5 fps continuous shooting at 16MP with continuous AF makes tracking birds or active kids easier - though the small sensor can’t compete with specialized DSLRs or mirrorless for action photography.

Sony’s 1 fps burst is simply unsuitable for fast action, and sluggish AF can miss fleeting moments. However, its extreme 35x zoom might capture distant subjects inaccessible to many compacts, albeit with diminished image quality at max reach.

Street Photography

Weight and discretion win here for Olympus. The tiny SH-2 can slip into pockets, reducing the “camera-shy” factor in candid shots. Its touchscreen also helps focus quickly without fumbling controls.

The Sony is conspicuous and bulky. While it offers an EVF, its low resolution and awkward ergonomics make street shooting less fluid.

Macro and Close-Up

Olympus’s 3cm macro range and accurate AF mean better-focused near subjects like flowers or insects. Sony doesn’t specify macro, and from experience, close focusing is limited - less satisfying for detail-oriented close-ups.

Night and Astro Photography

Both small sensors struggle with noise at high ISOs - standard for their class. Still, Olympus’s BSI CMOS sensor copes better at ISO 800-1600, meaning cleaner skies and better star field rendering. Manual exposure mode on both cameras helps with long exposures, but Olympus’s faster shutter speeds (up to 1/2000 sec) provide more flexibility for creative shooting.

Video

As covered earlier, Olympus’s Full HD 60p recording with sensor-shift stabilization lets enthusiasts capture relatively stable, smooth video. Sony’s 720p capability is serviceable for casual clips but looks dated next to modern standards.

Technical Summation: Inside the Numbers

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

From my lens-worn vantage point, here’s how I’d help different photographers break down their choices between these siblings in superzoom territory:

• If you want a lightweight, versatile travel companion or street shooter’s friend: Olympus SH-2. Its manageable size, better autofocus, touchscreen interface, RAW support, and higher-quality video combine for a more well-rounded package that empowers both casual and serious shooters.

• If your obsession is niche super-telephoto reach and you have a tight budget: Sony H300. Its 35x zoom is tempting albeit with compromises - slower AF, heavier body, lower-res video, and JPG-only output. It’s basically “big zoom for peanuts,” but know you pay in image finesse and agility.

• If video is a priority: Olympus SH-2’s 1080p60 and stabilized footage provide a more satisfying experience even for hobbyist videographers.

• If you’re starting out and don’t want RAW workflow complexities: Sony’s H300 is simpler to shoot - less an enthusiast tool and more of a straightforward point-and-shoot with big zoom.

• If you want a compact that also dabbles in macro and portraits: Olympus pulls ahead thanks to its close focusing abilities and smoother color rendering.

Wrapping It Up With a Nod to Context

To be perfectly honest, superzoom compacts like these have largely been eclipsed by smartphone cameras and mirrorless systems offering larger sensors and better glass. But their niche - affordable all-in-one cameras for enthusiasts who want more reach and manual control than a phone yet fewer complexities than DSLRs - remains.

With that in mind, the Olympus SH-2 feels like the better “all-around” camera for serious casual shooters willing to explore manual modes and tweak images. The Sony H300 trades image quality and speed for extreme reach and lower price, ideal for tight budgets or purely telephoto curiosity.

Whichever route you choose, remember that nothing beats practice - and every camera helps tell a story, noisy image or not.

Happy shooting!

If you want to dig deeper, my hands-on test gallery and more performance data await below.

Olympus SH 2 front Olympus SH 2 screen back Sony H300 front Sony H300 screen back