Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax P80

Below is a in depth analysis of the Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax P80, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap among the resolutions of the SH-3 (16MP) and P80 (12MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SH-3 was revealed 6 years later than the P80 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before we go right into a full comparison, here is a short summary of how the SH-3 matches up versus the P80 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus Stylus SH-3 & Pentax Optio P80. The full galleries are provided at Olympus SH-3 Gallery & Pentax P80 Gallery.

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you should think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SH-3 provides external dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) while the Pentax P80 has dimensions of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SH-3 vs Pentax P80 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the SH-3 vs the P80.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SH-3 and P80 is 88 and 95 respectively.

Sometimes, it's difficult to see the gap in sensor measurements purely by going through technical specs. The graphic below will give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-3 and P80.

As you have seen, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Olympus SH-3 to produce extra detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs more aggressively. The younger SH-3 will have an edge in sensor tech.