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Olympus SH-1

 
Olympus Stylus SH-1 front
 
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Announced March 2014
  • Later Model is Olympus SH-2
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
53
Overall
45

Olympus SH-1 overview

Olympus SH-1 is Olympus's Small Sensor Superzoom digital camera initially announced on March of 2014. The camera comes with a 16MP, BSI-CMOS 1/2.3" size sensor with a maximum resolution of 4608 x 3456.

Olympus launched the updated Olympus SH-2 (Read Full Comparison) in an effort to improve this model.

The SH-1 comes in at #55 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and all round #522 out of 1465 for cameras in our collection. Remember to look at our Smart camera filter to find camera listings based on your customized requirements.

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Here is a chart of specific criteria used in the scoring system.

Olympus SH-1 history

The Olympus SH-1 is part of a family of cameras. You can read the full list underneath.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Olympus-Stylus-SH-3 front thumbnailOlympus SH-3
SH-1 vs SH-3
25-600mm
F3.0-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2016
Olympus-Stylus-SH-2 front thumbnailOlympus SH-2
SH-1 vs SH-2
25-600mm
F3.0-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2015
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Olympus-Stylus-SH-1 front thumbnailOlympus SH-125-600mm
F3.0-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2014
Olympus-Stylus-SP-100 front thumbnailOlympus SP-100
SH-1 vs SP-100
24-1200mm
F2.9-6.5
16MP1/2.3"2014
Olympus-SZ-15 front thumbnailOlympus SZ-15
SH-1 vs SZ-15
23-483mm
F2.8-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
Olympus-SZ-16-iHS front thumbnailOlympus SZ-16 iHS
SH-1 vs SZ-16 iHS
25-600mm
F3.0-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
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Olympus-SH-50 front thumbnailOlympus SH-50
SH-1 vs SH-50
25-600mm
F3.0-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
Olympus-Stylus-SP-820UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-820UZ
SH-1 vs SP-820UZ
22-896mm
F3.4-5.7
14MP1/2.3"2012
Olympus-SZ-31MR-iHS front thumbnailOlympus SZ-31MR iHS
SH-1 vs SZ-31MR iHS
25-600mm
F3.0-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2012
Olympus-SP-620-UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-620 UZ
SH-1 vs SP-620 UZ
25-525mm
F3.1-5.8
16MP1/2.3"2012
Olympus-SZ-12 front thumbnailOlympus SZ-12
SH-1 vs SZ-12
25-600mm
F3.0-6.9
14MP1/2.3"2012
Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M
Olympus-SP-810-UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-810 UZ
SH-1 vs SP-810 UZ
24-864mm
F2.9-5.7
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-SZ-11 front thumbnailOlympus SZ-11
SH-1 vs SZ-11
25-500mm
F3.0-6.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-SZ-30MR front thumbnailOlympus SZ-30MR
SH-1 vs SZ-30MR
25-600mm
F3.0-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-SZ-10 front thumbnailOlympus SZ-10
SH-1 vs SZ-10
28-504mm
F3.1-4.4
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-SP-610UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-610UZ
SH-1 vs SP-610UZ
28-616mm
F3.3-5.7
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-SP-800-UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-800 UZ
SH-1 vs SP-800 UZ
28-840mm
F2.8-5.6
14MP1/2.3"2010
Olympus-SP-600-UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-600 UZ
SH-1 vs SP-600 UZ
28-420mm
F3.5-5.4
12MP1/2.3"2010
Olympus-SP-565UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-565UZ
SH-1 vs SP-565UZ
26-520mm
F2.8-4.5
10MP1/2.3"2009
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Olympus-SP-590-UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-590 UZ
SH-1 vs SP-590 UZ
26-676mm
F2.8-5.0
12MP1/2.3"2009

Olympus SH-1 Pros and Cons

Here is a selection of advantages and drawbacks of the Olympus SH-1 based on features which are normally viewed as important in a digital camera.

comes with external mic port
comes with HDMI port
decent megapixels (16MP)
features touch to focus
good battery (380 shots)
has built in flash
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection autofocus
includes tracking autofocus
lighter than competition in class (271 grams)
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
pretty good screen size (3")
really wide (25mm)
touch screen
very good min ISO (100)
very long zoom (600mm)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
cannot use external flash
doesn't have headphone port
fixed screen
lack of shutter priority mode
max zoom aperture not good (f6.9)
no aperture priority
no manual focus
no phase detect autofocus
no RAW files
pixelated screen (460 k dot)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Olympus SH-1 Sensor information

The Olympus SH-1 is powered by the TruePic VII chip. The measurement of the sensor in the Olympus SH-1 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor can resolve 4608 x 3456 pixels using aspect ratios of 3:2. The camera includes Image Stabilization (Sensor-shift). In body stabilization is preferable than digital stabilization as the latter can easily produce cropping.

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The BSI-CMOS sensor boasts 16MP and gives a standard ISO range of 100 - 6400. Unfortunately, RAW files are not supported therefore you have less margin for error.

The image underneath displays the SH-1's sensor size in comparison to other popular sizes. The SH-1 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.8 and is presented in green.

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To get an understanding of different aspect ratios, you should refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Olympus SH-1 dimensions

Olympus SH-1 has a weight of 0.60 lbs (271g or 9.56 ounces) and features external proportions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7"). The weight of normal Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387g so the Olympus SH-1 is lighter as compared to various competitors.

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Here is a image of the Olympus SH-1 with a softdrink to help you to have a feel for its size.

Olympus Stylus SH-1 dimensions scale

The top view just below will illustrate the button arrangement on the SH-1.

Olympus Stylus SH-1 topview buttons dials

Olympus SH-1 Lens information

The SH-1 features an inbuilt lens offering a focal range of 25-600mm giving it a 24.0 x zoom which is very good and can allow you to zoom all the way in.

At it's widest 25mm, the lens offers an aperture of f3.0 and that is very sluggish and not ideal in low light circumstances and you will likely find it difficult to capture a shallow depth of field. You could also have to up your ISO setting leading to noisy shots. Towards the long end, 600mm is great zoom and comes with f6.9 making it fairly sluggish and you may have to go with slower shutter speeds.

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Olympus SH-1 Connectivity

The SH-1 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Cameras that contain NFC and Bluetooth compatibility are able to be controlled wirelessly through smartphones. You are able to send files and at times adjust camera settings without connecting straight with the camera.

Certain apps also stream a Liveview and click the shutter in case you aren't close to the camera. If the camera boasts a HDMI out, it can easily be connected to an external monitor. Virtually all cameras enable you to charge the battery with the USB port.

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Olympus SH-1 Video information

The maximum video quality in the Olympus SH-1 is 1920 x 1080 and it can record in H.264 file format. 1080p quality gives a great balance between video quality and file size but FULL HD won't give you much room to crop. Although the body includes a mic socket, it is sadly lacking a headphone socket which means you won't have the option to check your audio levels.

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Olympus SH-1 Weather Sealing

There is no weather proofing for the Olympus SH-1 so you have to be cautious in wet or dusty conditions.

Olympus SH-1 Screen and Viewfinder

The Olympus SH-1 comes with a 3" fixed display having a resolution of 460k dots.

Additionally the display is touch friendly which means you can easily adjust focus points and change settings with your fingertips.

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The ViewFinder specs regarding Olympus SH-1 are as follows:

  • ViewFinder None

In those sunny outdoor conditions that make the camera screens washed out and difficult to view, viewfinders are particularly useful.

Olympus SH-1 Shutter information

Olympus SH-1 continuous shooting rate is 12.0 fps. The highest shutter speed is 1/2000 seconds.

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Olympus SH-1 Flash and Hot shoe information

Olympus SH-1 includes just integrated flash with no external flash ability.

Olympus SH-1 Autofocusing information

Olympus SH-1 includes only Contrast Detect Autofocus and is missing Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection autofocusing is more quicker and accurate as compared to Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera comes with Face detection which can be helpful for taking portraits of people.

Olympus SH-1 has touch to focus. You can easily use your fingers in order to switch focus. It also has Tracking Autofocus for moving things. Olympus SH-1 has not got manual focus. Manual focus mode is good during low light occasions or you need to have more precise control on focus.

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Olympus SH-1 Battery life

The battery (LI-92B) for the Olympus SH-1 is fashioned to last for 380 clicks with respect to the CIPA standards making it higher than the usual ın comparison with its class. The general Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR has the highest possible (600) battery life within this class of cameras.

Listed below is a list of Small Sensor Superzoom cameras that have the highest battery life:

Olympus SH-1 for varying kinds of photography

The following illustration displays a summation of the Olympus SH-1 for varying kinds of photography. To understand more, visit the specific paragraph underneath.

Olympus SH-1 Portrait photography features

The Olympus SH-1 gets a rating of 37 which is terrible, meaning that it is not really suitable for portraits. Shooting portraits favors heavily to sensor size, support for RAW files plus the capability to work with external lighting.

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decent sensor resolution (16MP)
offers face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support

Olympus SH-1 Street photography details

Getting a above average points tally of 64, the Olympus SH-1 is a fine choice to buy for street photography. A decent street photography camera comes with a perfect balance of picture quality and portability.

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image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers focus via touch
lighter than competitors in class (271 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support

Olympus SH-1 Sports photography features

A decent sports photography rating of 51 indicates the Olympus SH-1 is relatively acceptable for photographing sports. A camera should have good tracking and shutter speeds for sports photography.

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excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
good battery pack (380 CIPA)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF

Olympus SH-1 Travel photography details

Weight is super critical in picking a camera for travel. In general, the Olympus SH-1 gets a nice 74 for a travelling camera which makes it a respectable fit to take on your holidays.

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good battery pack (380 shots)
lighter than competition (271 grams)
offers focus by touch
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.0)

Olympus SH-1 Landscape photography features

For anyone who is planning to pick a camera for landscape pictures, the most important aspect will be image quality. The Olympus SH-1 with it's moderate rating of 49 as a landscape camera is somewhat acceptable in the current market.

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decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
better than average battery (380 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support

Vlogging with Olympus SH-1

A camera for vlogging ought to have a moving display screen, microphone port and preferably image stabilization. Considering all things, the Olympus SH-1 is not really suitable as a vlog camera as it receives a terrible rating of 37.

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reasonably wide (25mm)
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has mic port
lighter than average in class (271 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not feature selfie friendly screen

Olympus SH-1 Alternatives

If you are shopping for replacements to the SH-1, here is a selection of the top placed cameras that fall into the class of Small Sensor Superzoom.

The line graph below will give you an overview of the SH-1 versus it's top scored competitors listed earlier.

There are a bunch of cameras you may view as alternative options. To browse through a full comparison, visit the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Make
Olympus
Model
Olympus Stylus SH-1
Category
Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced
2014-03-31
Body design
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
BSI-CMOS
Powered by
TruePic VII
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
3:2
Highest resolution
4608 x 3456
RAW images
Highest native ISO
6400
Min native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Cross focus points
0
Lens
Lens mounting type
fixed lens
Lens focal range
25-600mm (24.0x)
Largest aperture
f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus range
3cm
Focal length multiplier
5.8
Screen
Range of screen
Fixed Type
Screen size
3"
Screen resolution
460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
None
DXO scores
DXO All around score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Slowest shutter speed
30 secs
Maximum shutter speed
1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed
12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions
1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution
1920x1080
Video format
H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
271g (0.60 pounds)
Physical dimensions
109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7")
Other
Battery life
380 images
Form of battery
Battery Pack
Battery model
LI-92B
Self timer
Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media
SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Storage slots
One
Launch pricing
$349