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Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic S2

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic S2 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
  • Launched February 2016
  • Superseded the Olympus SH-2
Panasonic S2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 112g - 98 x 57 x 21mm
  • Revealed January 2012
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Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic S2 Overview

Following is a detailed comparison of the Olympus SH-3 versus Panasonic S2, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SH-3 (16MP) and the S2 (14MP) is pretty close and both cameras provide the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SH-3 was released 4 years after the S2 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief summation of how the SH-3 scores versus the S2 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-3 over the Panasonic S2

 SH-3 S2 
RevealedFebruary 2016January 2012More modern by 50 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic S2 over the Olympus SH-3

 S2 SH-3 

Common features in the Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic S2

 SH-3 S2 
Manual focus No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic S2 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus SH-3 has got exterior dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) whilst the Panasonic S2 has specifications of 98mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") having a weight of 112 grams (0.25 lbs).

See the Olympus SH-3 versus Panasonic S2 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you use at that time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the SH-3 compared to the S2.

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic S2 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SH-3 and S2 is 88 and 96 respectively.

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic S2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic S2 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizes only by researching specs. The pic below might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SH-3 and S2.

All in all, the 2 cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different MP. You can expect the Olympus SH-3 to render greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs way more aggressively. The more recent SH-3 provides an advantage in sensor technology.

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic S2 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic S2 Portrait photography advice
44
decent megapixels (16MP)
provides face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
34
MP count good (14 megapixels)
comes with face detect focusing
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-3 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic S2 as a Street photography camera
70
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
has touch to focus
lighter than others in class (271 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (112g)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Sports photography details
Panasonic S2 Sports photography details
51
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
better than average battery life (380 per charge)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
40
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
great battery power (280 per charge)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic S2 Travel photography highlights
74
better than average battery life (380 shots)
lighter than others in class (271 grams)
has touch to focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
71
great battery power (280 per charge)
lighter than competition (112 grams)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SH-3
Landscape photography with Panasonic S2
55
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (380 per charge)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
41
fairly wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
great battery power (280 shots)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual exposure
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Vlogging information
Panasonic S2 Vlogging information
35
pretty wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than others in class (271g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have microphone port
33
fairly wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
lighter than competition (112 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone support
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Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic S2
 Olympus Stylus SH-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Stylus SH-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2016-02-08 2012-01-09
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus distance 3cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 8 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 11.5 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 3.30 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (15 fps), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video file format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 271 grams (0.60 lb) 112 grams (0.25 lb)
Physical dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 98 x 57 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 380 shots 280 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail cost $579 $109