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Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-x

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-3 front
 
Pentax K-x front
Portability
69
Imaging
52
Features
47
Overall
50

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-x 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
  • Introduced February 2016
  • Succeeded the Olympus SH-2
Pentax K-x
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Push to 12800)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 580g - 123 x 92 x 68mm
  • Released December 2009
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Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-x Overview

Here, we will be matching up the Olympus SH-3 versus Pentax K-x, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There exists a huge gap among the image resolutions of the SH-3 (16MP) and K-x (12MP) and the SH-3 (1/2.3") and K-x (APS-C) boast different sensor sizes.

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The SH-3 was unveiled 6 years after the K-x which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SH-3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-x being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the SH-3 matches up against the K-x in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 SH-3 K-x 
ReleasedFebruary 2016December 2009More modern by 75 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

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

 K-x SH-3 
Manual focus More precise focus

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

 SH-3 K-x 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-x Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera often, you will need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SH-3 has got physical 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-x has dimensions of 123mm x 92mm x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SH-3 versus Pentax K-x in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the SH-3 compared to the K-x.

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-x size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SH-3 and K-x is 88 and 69 respectively.

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

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-x Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to picture the contrast in sensor sizes only by researching specs. The picture here might provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SH-3 and K-x.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SH-3 with its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF harder and the Olympus SH-3 will result in more detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots way more aggressively. The newer SH-3 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-x Portrait photography advice
44
MP count good (16 megapixels)
provides face detection focus
supports RAW files
manual focus not available
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
63
manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-3 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-x as a Street photography camera
70
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
offers focus by touch
lighter than others (271g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-x Sports photography highlights
51
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
good battery pack (380 shots)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
61
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good battery (1,900 CIPA)
has phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12MP)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-x Travel photography highlights
74
good battery pack (380 per charge)
lighter than others (271 grams)
offers focus by touch
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
54
good battery (1,900 CIPA)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Landscape photography details
Pentax K-x Landscape photography details
55
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
supports RAW files
good battery pack (380 per charge)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
61
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
good battery (1,900 shots)
tiny screen (2.7")
MP count low (12 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-x as a Vlogging camera
35
decently wide (25mm)
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than others (271 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
no external mic port
27
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic jack
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Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax K-x Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-3 and Pentax K-x
 Olympus Stylus SH-3Pentax K-x
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus Stylus SH-3 Pentax K-x
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2016-02-08 2009-12-23
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII Prime
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 2848
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Max boosted ISO - 12800
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 11.5fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 16.00 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear curtain, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 (24 fps), 640 x 416 (24 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video file format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 271 gr (0.60 lb) 580 gr (1.28 lb)
Physical dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 123 x 92 x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 72
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 811
Other
Battery life 380 photos 1900 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC card
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $579 $600