Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic S2

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").

Photography Glossary

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.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus Stylus SH-3 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus SH-3 Gallery & Panasonic S2 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.