Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic LX100

Following is a extensive analysis of the Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic LX100, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a significant difference among the sensor resolutions of the SH-3 (16MP) and LX100 (13MP) and the SH-3 (1/2.3") and LX100 (Four Thirds) posses different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The SH-3 was brought out 18 months after the LX100 which makes them a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SH-3 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic LX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise overview of how the SH-3 grades vs the LX100 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus Stylus SH-3 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus SH-3 Gallery and Panasonic LX100 Gallery.

If you're looking to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus SH-3 enjoys external dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) while the Panasonic LX100 has sizing of 115mm x 66mm x 55mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 2.2") with a weight of 393 grams (0.87 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic LX100 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have at the time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the SH-3 and the LX100.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the SH-3 and LX100 is 88 and 83 respectively.

Generally, its tough to visualize the gap in sensor sizes merely by going through specs. The image here will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SH-3 and LX100.

All in all, each of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SH-3 due to its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Olympus SH-3 will produce greater detail having its extra 3 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures way more aggressively. The fresher SH-3 should have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.