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Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-S2

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-3 front
 
Pentax K-S2 front
Portability
64
Imaging
64
Features
82
Overall
71

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-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
  • Revealed February 2016
  • Previous Model is Olympus SH-2
Pentax K-S2
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 678g - 123 x 91 x 73mm
  • Launched February 2015
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-S1
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Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-S2 Overview

In this write-up, we will be analyzing the Olympus SH-3 and Pentax K-S2, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SH-3 (16MP) and the K-S2 (20MP) is relatively well matched but the SH-3 (1/2.3") and K-S2 (APS-C) come with different sensor sizes.

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The SH-3 was released 13 months later than the K-S2 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SH-3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-S2 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting in to a in depth comparison, below is a brief overview of how the SH-3 scores vs the K-S2 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-3 over the Pentax K-S2

 SH-3 K-S2 
LaunchedFebruary 2016February 2015More recent by 13 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S2 over the Olympus SH-3

 K-S2 SH-3 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus SH-3 and Pentax K-S2

 SH-3 K-S2 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-S2 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera, you have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus SH-3 has 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) while the Pentax K-S2 has measurements of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") and a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SH-3 and Pentax K-S2 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the SH-3 vs the K-S2.

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-S2 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the SH-3 and K-S2 is 88 and 64 respectively.

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-S2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-S2 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to visualize the difference between sensor measurements purely by reading through technical specs. The photograph underneath may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-3 and K-S2.

As you can tell, the two cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The SH-3 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field tougher and the Pentax K-S2 will give you more detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more modern SH-3 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-S2 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-S2 Portrait photography advice
44
MP count good (16MP)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
78
manual focus
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-S2 Street photography highlights
70
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
offers touch to focus
lighter than competition in class (271g)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
72
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
good high ISO (51,200)
heavier than competition (678g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Sports photography details
Pentax K-S2 Sports photography details
51
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
has tracking focus
better than average battery pack (380 shots)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
70
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (5.4 fps)
bad battery power (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Travel photography details
Pentax K-S2 Travel photography details
74
better than average battery pack (380 per charge)
lighter than competition in class (271g)
offers touch to focus
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
does not posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
65
weather proofing
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
bad battery power (410 per charge)
heavier than competition (678 grams)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-S2 as a Landscape photography camera
55
decently wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (380 shots)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
small sensor (1/2.3")
77
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti aliasing filter
good high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
bad battery power (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SH-3
Vlogging with Pentax K-S2
35
decently wide (25mm)
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (271 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not posses selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone socket
71
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external mic jack
heavier than competition (678g)
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Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-3 and Pentax K-S2
 Olympus Stylus SH-3Pentax K-S2
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus Stylus SH-3 Pentax K-S2
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2016-02-08 2015-02-10
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII PRIME MII
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 6400 51200
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 11.5fps 5.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual flash
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance 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) 1920 x 1080 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 271 grams (0.60 pounds) 678 grams (1.49 pounds)
Dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 123 x 91 x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9")
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 images 410 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $579 $581