Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-S1

On this page, we will be looking at the Olympus SH-3 and Pentax K-S1, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SH-3 (16MP) and the K-S1 (20MP) is relatively well matched but the SH-3 (1/2.3") and K-S1 (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The SH-3 was announced 18 months after the K-S1 which makes them a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SH-3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-S1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief summation of how the SH-3 scores against the K-S1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus Stylus SH-3 and Pentax K-S1. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus SH-3 Gallery and Pentax K-S1 Gallery.

In case you're looking to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus SH-3 comes with 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 Pentax K-S1 has specifications of 121mm x 93mm x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8") along with a weight of 558 grams (1.23 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SH-3 and Pentax K-S1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the SH-3 vs the K-S1.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SH-3 and K-S1 is 88 and 69 respectively.

Normally, it is very tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizes merely by checking technical specs. The picture below might give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SH-3 and K-S1.

As you can tell, both the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SH-3 using its tinier sensor will make getting bokeh more challenging and the Pentax K-S1 will give you greater detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots more aggressively. The newer SH-3 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.