Olympus SH-2 vs Sony WX5

Following is a detailed assessment of the Olympus SH-2 versus Sony WX5, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the SH-2 (16MP) and WX5 (12MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SH-2 was manufactured 4 years after the WX5 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the SH-2 scores against the WX5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus Stylus SH-2 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5. The entire galleries are available at Olympus SH-2 Gallery & Sony WX5 Gallery.

For those who are looking to carry around your camera, you need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus SH-2 features 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) and the Sony WX5 has sizing of 92mm x 52mm x 22mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.9") and a weight of 146 grams (0.32 lbs).

See the Olympus SH-2 versus Sony WX5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilising at the time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the SH-2 vs the WX5.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SH-2 and WX5 is 88 and 95 respectively.

Sometimes, it's difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizes simply by checking out technical specs. The image below should give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SH-2 and WX5.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You can count on the Olympus SH-2 to provide more detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots more aggressively. The more recent SH-2 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.