Olympus SH-3 vs Sony A450

On this page, we will be looking at the Olympus SH-3 versus Sony A450, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SH-3 (16MP) and the A450 (14MP) is pretty similar but the SH-3 (1/2.3") and A450 (APS-C) have different sensor dimensions.

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The SH-3 was manufactured 6 years after the A450 which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus SH-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A450 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the SH-3 grades against the A450 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus Stylus SH-3 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A450. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus SH-3 Gallery & Sony A450 Gallery.

In case you're looking to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus SH-3 enjoys 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 Sony A450 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.2") with a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SH-3 versus Sony A450 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using during that time. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the SH-3 vs the A450.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the SH-3 and A450 is 88 and 65 respectively.

Usually, its tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes just by reviewing technical specs. The picture here might give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-3 and A450.

As you can tell, each of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SH-3 due to its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Olympus SH-3 will deliver greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs more aggressively. The newer SH-3 should have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.