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Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-3 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax MX-1 Key Specs

Olympus SH-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Previous Model is Olympus SH-2
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Released July 2013
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Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Olympus SH-3 versus Pentax MX-1, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There exists a substantial gap between the image resolutions of the SH-3 (16MP) and MX-1 (12MP) and the SH-3 (1/2.3") and MX-1 (1/1.7") provide totally different sensor size.

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The SH-3 was unveiled 2 years later than the MX-1 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go right into a full comparison, here is a short summary of how the SH-3 scores vs the MX-1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-3 over the Pentax MX-1

 SH-3 MX-1 
ReleasedFebruary 2016July 2013More recent by 32 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Olympus SH-3

 MX-1 SH-3 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kClearer display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SH-3 and Pentax MX-1

 SH-3 MX-1 
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus SH-3 has exterior dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) whilst the Pentax MX-1 has sizing of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") having a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Check the Olympus SH-3 versus Pentax MX-1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached at that time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the SH-3 versus the MX-1.

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SH-3 and MX-1 is 88 and 84 respectively.

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's tough to envision the gap between sensor measurements merely by reading through specs. The visual here might offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-3 and MX-1.

All in all, the two cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The SH-3 with its tinier sensor will make achieving bokeh more challenging and the Olympus SH-3 will give more detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos way more aggressively. The fresher SH-3 will have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SH-3
Portrait photography with Pentax MX-1
44
MP count good (16 megapixels)
includes face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
42
has manual focus
has face detection focus
delivers RAW files
no external flash support
low resolution sensor (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SH-3
Street photography with Pentax MX-1
70
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
offers touch focus
lighter than competition (271 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
65
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
more heavy than competitors in class (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Sports photography factors
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography factors
51
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
good battery power (380 CIPA)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
43
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking autofocus
good battery life (290 CIPA)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Travel photography info
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography info
74
good battery power (380 per charge)
lighter than competition (271 grams)
offers touch focus
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.0)
61
good battery life (290 per charge)
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors in class (391 grams)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Landscape photography advice
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography advice
55
relatively wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
exports RAW files
good battery power (380 shots)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
55
has manual focus
really wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
good battery life (290 CIPA)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Vlogging factors
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging factors
35
relatively wide (25mm)
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than competition (271g)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone support
33
really wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone port
more heavy than competitors in class (391 grams)
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Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-3 and Pentax MX-1
 Olympus Stylus SH-3Pentax MX-1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus Stylus SH-3 Pentax MX-1
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2016-02-08 2013-07-01
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus distance 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 4.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 11.5 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
AEB
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) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 271 gr (0.60 pounds) 391 gr (0.86 pounds)
Physical dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 49
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.3
DXO Low light score not tested 208
Other
Battery life 380 photos 290 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-92B D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $579 $400