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Olympus SH-50

 
Olympus SH-50 front
 
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 269g - 112 x 63 x 42mm
  • Revealed January 2013
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43

Olympus SH-50 summary

Olympus SH-50 is Olympus's Small Sensor Superzoom digital camera originally announced on January of 2013. It uses a 16 MegaPixel, BSI-CMOS 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a max resolution of 4608 x 3456.

The SH-50 places at #90 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and over all #593 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our database. You should check our Smart camera search to find camera rankings based on your personalized criteria.

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Below is a diagram of specific factors used in the rating system.

Olympus SH-50 history

The Olympus SH-50 comes with a history of related digital cameras. Underneath, you can look at all previous and brand new models as well as important specifications.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Olympus-Stylus-SH-3 front thumbnailOlympus SH-3
SH-50 vs SH-3
25-600mm
F3.0-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2016
Olympus-Stylus-SH-2 front thumbnailOlympus SH-2
SH-50 vs SH-2
25-600mm
F3.0-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2015
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Olympus-Stylus-SH-1 front thumbnailOlympus SH-1
SH-50 vs SH-1
25-600mm
F3.0-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2014
Olympus-Stylus-SP-100 front thumbnailOlympus SP-100
SH-50 vs SP-100
24-1200mm
F2.9-6.5
16MP1/2.3"2014
Olympus-SZ-15 front thumbnailOlympus SZ-15
SH-50 vs SZ-15
23-483mm
F2.8-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
Olympus-SH-50 front thumbnailOlympus SH-5025-600mm
F3.0-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
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Olympus-SZ-16-iHS front thumbnailOlympus SZ-16 iHS
SH-50 vs SZ-16 iHS
25-600mm
F3.0-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
Olympus-Stylus-SP-820UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-820UZ
SH-50 vs SP-820UZ
22-896mm
F3.4-5.7
14MP1/2.3"2012
Olympus-SZ-31MR-iHS front thumbnailOlympus SZ-31MR iHS
SH-50 vs SZ-31MR iHS
25-600mm
F3.0-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2012
Olympus-SP-620-UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-620 UZ
SH-50 vs SP-620 UZ
25-525mm
F3.1-5.8
16MP1/2.3"2012
Olympus-SZ-12 front thumbnailOlympus SZ-12
SH-50 vs SZ-12
25-600mm
F3.0-6.9
14MP1/2.3"2012
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Olympus-SZ-11 front thumbnailOlympus SZ-11
SH-50 vs SZ-11
25-500mm
F3.0-6.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-SP-810-UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-810 UZ
SH-50 vs SP-810 UZ
24-864mm
F2.9-5.7
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-SZ-30MR front thumbnailOlympus SZ-30MR
SH-50 vs SZ-30MR
25-600mm
F3.0-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-SZ-10 front thumbnailOlympus SZ-10
SH-50 vs SZ-10
28-504mm
F3.1-4.4
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-SP-610UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-610UZ
SH-50 vs SP-610UZ
28-616mm
F3.3-5.7
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-SP-600-UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-600 UZ
SH-50 vs SP-600 UZ
28-420mm
F3.5-5.4
12MP1/2.3"2010
Olympus-SP-800-UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-800 UZ
SH-50 vs SP-800 UZ
28-840mm
F2.8-5.6
14MP1/2.3"2010
Olympus-SP-565UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-565UZ
SH-50 vs SP-565UZ
26-520mm
F2.8-4.5
10MP1/2.3"2009
Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M
Olympus-SP-590-UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-590 UZ
SH-50 vs SP-590 UZ
26-676mm
F2.8-5.0
12MP1/2.3"2009

Olympus SH-50 Pros and Cons

Below is a collection of positives and negatives of the Olympus SH-50 based on things that are usually considered important in a digital camera.

amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built-in flash
comes with HDMI out
features face detection focusing
features tracking autofocus
focusing manually
great reach (600mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (269 grams)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
supports touch to focus
touchscreen functionality
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
can't use external flash
does not have external microphone support
does not have headphone support
does not have Timelapse function
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
lack of aperture priority mode
lacks phase detect AF
lacks RAW support
max zoom aperture not good (f6.9)
no shutter priority mode
pixelated screen (460 k dots)
screen does not articulate
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Olympus SH-50 Sensor details

The Olympus SH-50 houses the TruePic VI processor. The specification of the sensor in the Olympus SH-50 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the ability to capture 4608 x 3456 pixels at aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera has got Image Stabilization (Optical). In body stabilization is more desirable than digital stabilization as the latter can easily produce cropping.

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The BSI-CMOS sensor boasts 16 megapixels and supports a standard ISO range of 125 - 6400. Sadly, RAW files are not supported therefore you have less room to maneuver in post.

The graphic below displays the SH-50's sensor dimensions when compared to other popular sizes. The SH-50 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.8 and is showcased in green.

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To get a sense of specific aspect ratios, you should refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Olympus SH-50 dimensions

Olympus SH-50 has a weight of 0.59 pounds (269g or 9.49 ounces) and the sizing of the camera is 112mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7"). The weight of typical Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387g so the Olympus SH-50 is less heavy when compared with its rivals.

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Below is a pic of the Olympus SH-50 beside a soft drink to help you have a feel for its scale.

Olympus SH-50 dimensions scale

The top view below will illustrate the button arrangement on the SH-50.

Olympus SH-50 topview buttons dials

Olympus SH-50 Lens specs

The SH-50 has a fixed lens providing a focal range of 25-600mm giving it a 24.0 x zoom which is huge and does enable you to zoom right in.

At the widest 25mm, the lens provides an aperture of f3.0 making it kind of slow and not the best in low light occasions and you might struggle to capture good bokeh. You will also need to increase the ISO producing noisy images. Towards the tele end, 600mm is amazing zoom and comes at f6.9 making it fairly sluggish and you may need to use slower shutter speeds.

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Olympus SH-50 Connectivity

The SH-50 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Digital cameras that come with NFC and / or Bluetooth support can be used wirelessly via smartphones. You can copy files and sometimes alter settings without the hassle of connecting directly to the camera.

Some applications even allow a Liveview and hit the shutter in case you are not close to the camera. If the camera contains a HDMI out, it can be attached to an external screen. Almost all cameras will allow you to charge the battery pack through the USB port.

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Olympus SH-50 Video specs

The max video resolution in the Olympus SH-50 is 1920 x 1080 and it can capture in MPEG-4 and H.264 file format. 1080p resolution can provide a good balance for video quality versus file sizes but 1080p will not give you much room to downsample. The camera does not have a mic and / or headphone socket which means that you have got no control over your sound. It is probably a better idea to order another camera if you want good sound in your videos.

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Olympus SH-50 Weather Sealing

There is no environment proofing on the Olympus SH-50 so you need to be careful in rainy or dusty situations.

Olympus SH-50 Screen and Viewfinder

The Olympus SH-50 houses a 3" fixed screen boasting a resolution of 460k dots.

Moreover the screen is touch friendly which means you can easily set focus point as well as change settings using your fingertips.

Olympus SH-50 screen and viewfinder Peek Behind the Lens of 'Photographer' and Their Go-To Cameras

The View Finder specifications regarding Olympus SH-50 are below:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders can be rather helpful for bright outdoor situations which will make the camera screen washed out and difficult to view.

Olympus SH-50 Shutter specs

Olympus SH-50 has the ability to shoot continuously at 12.0 fps. The max shutter speed is 1/2000 sec.

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Olympus SH-50 Flash and Hot shoe specs

Olympus SH-50 has got only in-built flash with no external flash support.

Olympus SH-50 Autofocusing specs

Olympus SH-50 has got just Contrast Based AF and doesn't have Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot more quicker and exact when compared with Contrast Based autofocusing. The camera boasts Face detection which makes it handy for taking portraits of people.

Olympus SH-50 has touch to focus. You can use your fingers in order to switch focus. It also features Tracking AF for moving objects. Olympus SH-50 can use manual focusing if needed for low light or you require more accurate control on focusing.

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Olympus SH-50 Battery life

The usual Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR offers the maximum (600) battery life for this group of cameras.

Here is a number of Small Sensor Superzoom cameras that come with the highest battery life:

Olympus SH-50 for varying styles of photography

The following bar chart provides a rundown of the Olympus SH-50 for varying styles of photography. To check out more, visit the specific paragraph below.

Olympus SH-50 Portrait photography advice

The Olympus SH-50 gets a score of 44 which is horrible, meaning that it is not really appropriate to use for portrait photography. Shooting portrait photos leans heavily to sensor dimensions, support for RAW photos & option to utilize off-camera flash.

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focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
comes with face detection focus
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format

Olympus SH-50 Street photography details

Having a nice points total of 64, the Olympus SH-50 is a good option to use in street photography. A good street photography camera offers a good balance of image quality plus portability.

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built in image stabilization (Optical)
has touch to focus
lighter than average in class (269g)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files

Sports photography with Olympus SH-50

A average sports photography score of 48 indicates the Olympus SH-50 is fairly appropriate for shooting sports. A camera should have fantastic autofocus plus fast continuous shooting for sports photography.

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incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
offers tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus

Olympus SH-50 Travel photography factors

Size is super crucial when choosing a travel camera. All things considered, the Olympus SH-50 gets a nice 69 as a travel camera which is a very decent option for your vacations.

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lighter than competition in class (269g)
offers focus via touch
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.0)

Landscape photography with Olympus SH-50

If you're looking to choose a digital camera for landscape photography, the most essential factor will no doubt be image quality. The Olympus SH-50 and it's moderate rating of 49 for a landscape camera is reasonably acceptable amongst it's competition.

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focusing manually
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording

Olympus SH-50 Vlogging advice

A camera for vlogging really should offer a moving display screen, mic input and if possible image stabilization. Considering all things, the Olympus SH-50 is not really appropriate as a vlog camera as it gets a horrible rating of 34.

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rather wide (25mm)
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (269g)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic socket

Olympus SH-50 Alternatives

If you are searching for replacements to the SH-50, below is a range of the top rated cameras which fall in to the family of Small Sensor Superzoom.

The chart listed below shows you a summary of the SH-50 compared to it's highest scored rivals shown earlier.

These are various other cameras you might look into as alternative options. To look at a thorough comparison, simply click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Company
Olympus
Model type
Olympus SH-50
Category
Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed
2013-01-08
Physical type
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
BSI-CMOS
Powered by
TruePic VI
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution
4608 x 3456
RAW images
Maximum native ISO
6400
Min native ISO
125
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Lens
Lens mount type
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
25-600mm (24.0x)
Max aperture
f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing range
5cm
Crop factor
5.8
Screen
Screen type
Fixed Type
Screen sizing
3 inches
Resolution of screen
460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
None
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating
not tested
DXO Color Depth rating
not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating
not tested
DXO Low light rating
not tested
Features
Min shutter speed
15 seconds
Max shutter speed
1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate
12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation
Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance
4.00 m
Flash modes
Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions
1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288)
Maximum video resolution
1920x1080
Video format
MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
269g (0.59 lbs)
Dimensions
112 x 63 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7")
Other
Battery ID
SLB-10A
Self timer
Yes (2 or 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots
One
Launch price
$300