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Olympus SH-3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-3 front
 
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49

Olympus SH-3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Key Specs

Olympus SH-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Released February 2016
  • Previous Model is Olympus SH-2
Olympus XZ-2 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 346g - 113 x 65 x 48mm
  • Released December 2012
Photography Glossary

Olympus SH-3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Olympus SH-3 versus Olympus XZ-2 iHS, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both sold by Olympus. There is a big difference between the image resolutions of the SH-3 (16MP) and XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and the SH-3 (1/2.3") and XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") have different sensor sizing.

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The SH-3 was manufactured 3 years later than the XZ-2 iHS and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple view of how the SH-3 scores against the XZ-2 iHS in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-3 over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 SH-3 XZ-2 iHS 
ReleasedFebruary 2016December 2012Fresher by 39 months

Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Olympus SH-3

 XZ-2 iHS SH-3 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kSharper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SH-3 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 SH-3 XZ-2 iHS 
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus SH-3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera, you have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus SH-3 enjoys external measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) while the Olympus XZ-2 iHS has sizing of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") along with a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SH-3 versus Olympus XZ-2 iHS in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have attached at the time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the SH-3 versus the XZ-2 iHS.

Olympus SH-3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the SH-3 and XZ-2 iHS is 88 and 85 respectively.

Olympus SH-3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizing only by looking at technical specs. The visual below will help give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SH-3 and XZ-2 iHS.

As you have seen, both of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The SH-3 because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Olympus SH-3 will give you more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop images way more aggressively. The more recent SH-3 should have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SH-3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
44
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
comes with face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
no manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
46
manual focus
includes face detection focus
saves RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Street photography information
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Street photography information
70
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
includes focus by touch
lighter than others (271 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
66
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
more heavy than others in class (346g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-3 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Sports photography camera
51
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
great battery power (380 shots)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
43
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking autofocus
great battery (340 per charge)
resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-3 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Travel photography camera
74
great battery power (380 CIPA)
lighter than others (271 grams)
includes focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
61
great battery (340 per charge)
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than others in class (346 grams)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Landscape photography information
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Landscape photography information
55
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
exports RAW files
great battery power (380 shots)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
55
manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
great battery (340 CIPA)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Vlogging advice
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Vlogging advice
35
pretty wide (25mm)
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than others (271 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone jack
36
relatively wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external microphone jack
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
more heavy than others in class (346g)
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Olympus SH-3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-3 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS
 Olympus Stylus SH-3Olympus XZ-2 iHS
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus Stylus SH-3 Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2016-02-08 2012-12-18
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 3968 x 2976
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 35
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus distance 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 11.5 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 8.60 m (ISO 800)
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (15 fps), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 271g (0.60 pounds) 346g (0.76 pounds)
Physical dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 49
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.3
DXO Low light score not tested 216
Other
Battery life 380 photos 340 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B Li-90B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $579 $450