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Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FX78

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FX78 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
  • Announced February 2016
  • Earlier Model is Olympus SH-2
Panasonic FX78
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 100 x 55 x 21mm
  • Launched January 2011
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FX77
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Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FX78 Overview

In this write-up, we are looking at the Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic FX78, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a big gap between the image resolutions of the SH-3 (16MP) and FX78 (12MP) but they feature the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SH-3 was manufactured 5 years later than the FX78 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a full comparison, below is a short summary of how the SH-3 matches up against the FX78 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-3 over the Panasonic FX78

 SH-3 FX78 
LaunchedFebruary 2016January 2011More recent by 62 months
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX78 over the Olympus SH-3

 FX78 SH-3 
Display sizing3.5"3"Larger display (+0.5")

Common features in the Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic FX78

 SH-3 FX78 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FX78 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus SH-3 enjoys 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) whilst the Panasonic FX78 has proportions of 100mm x 55mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") with a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic FX78 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the SH-3 versus the FX78.

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FX78 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SH-3 and FX78 is 88 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FX78 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FX78 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to envision the contrast between sensor measurements just by checking a spec sheet. The photograph underneath might provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SH-3 and FX78.

Clearly, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You should expect to see the Olympus SH-3 to resolve more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics a little more aggressively. The newer SH-3 will have a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FX78 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FX78 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FX78 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FX78 as a Portrait photography camera
44
decent MP (16 megapixels)
features face detect focus
saves RAW files
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
21
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
no external flash support
low resolution (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Street photography highlights
Panasonic FX78 Street photography highlights
70
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
supports touch to focus
lighter than competition (271 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Sports photography details
Panasonic FX78 Sports photography details
51
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
good battery (380 CIPA)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
28
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking focus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,400 seconds)
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
low resolution (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery power (200 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Travel photography information
Panasonic FX78 Travel photography information
74
good battery (380 shots)
lighter than competition (271 grams)
supports touch to focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
56
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low battery power (200 shots)
low resolution (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SH-3
Landscape photography with Panasonic FX78
55
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
saves RAW files
good battery (380 per charge)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
small sensor (1/2.3")
36
relatively wide (24mm)
screen larger than average (3.5")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
no manual mode
low resolution (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
low battery power (200 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Vlogging information
Panasonic FX78 Vlogging information
35
pretty wide (25mm)
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than competition (271g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
no microphone socket
33
relatively wide (24mm)
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
doesn't have mic port
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Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FX78 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic FX78
 Olympus Stylus SH-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Stylus SH-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-FX77
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2016-02-08 2011-01-25
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.5-5.9
Macro focusing range 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3.5 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1400 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 11.5 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (15 fps), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 271 gr (0.60 pounds) 142 gr (0.31 pounds)
Dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 100 x 55 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 380 pictures 200 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail price $579 $210