Olympus SH-3 vs Sony A99
88 Imaging
41 Features
51 Overall
45


57 Imaging
69 Features
88 Overall
76
Olympus SH-3 vs Sony A99 Key Specs
(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
- Revealed February 2016
- Earlier Model is Olympus SH-2
(Full Review)
- 24MP - Full frame Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Display
- ISO 100 - 25600
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1/8000s Max Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
- 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
- Introduced December 2012
- Old Model is Sony A900
- Replacement is Sony A99 II

Olympus SH-3 vs Sony A99 Overview
Following is a in depth assessment of the Olympus SH-3 vs Sony A99, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a big gap between the resolutions of the SH-3 (16MP) and A99 (24MP) and the SH-3 (1/2.3") and A99 (Full frame) boast totally different sensor dimensions.

The SH-3 was revealed 3 years after the A99 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SH-3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.
Before delving into a complete comparison, here is a short summary of how the SH-3 grades versus the A99 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Olympus SH-3 vs Sony A99 Gallery
Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus Stylus SH-3 and Sony SLT-A99. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus SH-3 Gallery and Sony A99 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus SH-3 over the Sony A99
SH-3 | A99 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | February 2016 | ![]() | December 2012 | More modern by 39 months |
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Easily navigate |
Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Olympus SH-3
A99 | SH-3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | Dial precise focus | ||
Display type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fixed | Fully Articulating display |
Display resolution | 1229k | ![]() | 460k | Sharper display (+769k dot) |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Take selfies |
Common features in the Olympus SH-3 and Sony A99
SH-3 | A99 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display size | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Same display sizing |
Olympus SH-3 vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus SH-3 has got outside dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) whilst the Sony A99 has specifications of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") along with a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).
Check the Olympus SH-3 vs Sony A99 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the SH-3 and the A99.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SH-3 and A99 is 88 and 57 respectively.

Olympus SH-3 vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison
Quite often, it's hard to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes only by reviewing specs. The image here might offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-3 and A99.
All in all, the two cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SH-3 using its tinier sensor will make getting bokeh more challenging and the Sony A99 will offer extra detail because of its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics way more aggressively. The more modern SH-3 will have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus SH-3 vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Sony A99 Specifications
Olympus Stylus SH-3 | Sony SLT-A99 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Manufacturer | Olympus | Sony |
Model type | Olympus Stylus SH-3 | Sony SLT-A99 |
Type | Small Sensor Superzoom | Advanced DSLR |
Revealed | 2016-02-08 | 2012-12-12 |
Physical type | Compact | Mid-size SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor | TruePic VII | Bionz |
Sensor type | BSI-CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | Full frame |
Sensor dimensions | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 35.8 x 23.8mm |
Sensor area | 28.1mm² | 852.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16 megapixel | 24 megapixel |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Highest resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 6000 x 4000 |
Highest native ISO | 6400 | 25600 |
Lowest native ISO | 125 | 100 |
RAW data | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Autofocus touch | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Tracking autofocus | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detection autofocus | ||
Contract detection autofocus | ||
Phase detection autofocus | ||
Total focus points | - | 19 |
Cross type focus points | - | 11 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | fixed lens | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
Lens zoom range | 25-600mm (24.0x) | - |
Maximal aperture | f/3.0-6.9 | - |
Macro focusing distance | 3cm | - |
Available lenses | - | 143 |
Crop factor | 5.8 | 1 |
Screen | ||
Type of screen | Fixed Type | Fully Articulated |
Screen sizing | 3 inch | 3 inch |
Resolution of screen | 460 thousand dots | 1,229 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch display | ||
Screen technology | - | TFT Xtra Fine color LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | None | Electronic |
Viewfinder resolution | - | 2,359 thousand dots |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 100% |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.71x |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 30 secs | 30 secs |
Highest shutter speed | 1/2000 secs | 1/8000 secs |
Continuous shooting rate | 11.5fps | 10.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Change white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) | no built-in flash |
Flash modes | Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
Hot shoe | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Highest flash synchronize | - | 1/250 secs |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 3840 x 2160 (15 fps), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps) |
Highest video resolution | 3840x2160 | 1920x1080 |
Video format | H.264 | MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 |
Mic support | ||
Headphone support | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Built-In | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | BuiltIn |
Physical | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 271g (0.60 pounds) | 812g (1.79 pounds) |
Physical dimensions | 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") | 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around rating | not tested | 89 |
DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | 25.0 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | 14.0 |
DXO Low light rating | not tested | 1555 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 380 pictures | 500 pictures |
Battery style | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | LI-92B | NP-FM500H |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Type of storage | SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory | Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC |
Card slots | 1 | 2 |
Launch price | $579 | $1,998 |