Olympus SH-2

Olympus SH-2 is Olympus's Small Sensor Superzoom camera first released on March of 2015. It comes with a 16 MegaPixel, BSI-CMOS 1/2.3" size sensor with a full resolution of 4608 x 3456.

Olympus brought out this camera as a way to replace the earlier Olympus SH-1 (Read Full Comparison) and afterwards launched the newer Olympus SH-3 (Read Full Comparison) to update this model.

The SH-2 is rated #50 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and over-all #513 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our collection. Please look at our Advanced camera finder to find camera results based on your custom criteria.

The following is a graph of different factors used in the rating system.

The Olympus SH-2 comes with a history of related digital cameras. Below, you can take a look at all past and current models alongside main specifications.

You can look at the SH-2 from different angles in the gallery underneath.

Here is a shortlist of positives and negatives of the Olympus SH-2 based on criterias which are generally regarded as necessary in a camera.

The Olympus SH-2 houses the TruePic VII processor. The dimension of the sensor on the Olympus SH-2 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the ability to capture 4608 x 3456 pixels using aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera boasts Image Stabilization (Sensor-shift). Sensor stabilization is preferable than digital stabilization since the latter may produce cropping.

Photography Glossary

The BSI-CMOS sensor boasts 16MP and gives a native ISO range of 125 to 6400. RAW format is saved which means that the user has more room to maneuver in post.

The picture underneath displays the SH-2's sensor size when compared to other common sizes. The SH-2 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.8 and is showcased in green.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

To get a sense of different aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.

Olympus SH-2 weighs around 0.60 lb (271 gr / 9.56 oz) and the dimensions of the camera is 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7"). The weight of average Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387 gr and the Olympus SH-2 is less heavy as compared to various competitors.

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Down below is a shot of the Olympus SH-2 with a softdrink to help you have a sense of its size.

The top view under will show the button arrangement on the SH-2.

The SH-2 provides a fixed lens offering a focal range of 25-600mm making it a 24.0 x zoom which is perfect and will make it easier to zoom all the way in.

At it's widest 25mm, it will have an aperture of f3.0 which will be fairly sluggish and not very good in low light circumstances and you might struggle to capture good bokeh. You could also need to boost your ISO producing noisy photographs. At the long end, 600mm is amazing zoom and comes at f6.9 which is fairly slow and you will have to use slow shutter speeds.

The SH-2 has the following connectivity:

• USB Yes
• Wireless Yes
• HDMI Yes

Digital cameras that incorporate NFC and Bluetooth connectivity can be used wirelessly with smartphones. You are able to transfer pictures and at times alter camera settings without connecting directly with the camera.

Several apps also allow a Liveview and release the shutter when you are not near the camera. If the camera contains a HDMI out, it can be attached to an external screen. Virtually all cameras enable you to recharge the battery pack through the USB socket.

The highest possible video resolution on the Olympus SH-2 is 1920 x 1080 and it can record in H.264 format. 1080p resolution is an excellent balance between quality vs file size but 1080p isn't going to leave you with much room to downsample. The body does not offer a mic and headphone jack which means you get absolutely no control over your audio. It is perhaps a better idea to order an alternative model should you want decent audio in your video clips.

Olympus SH-2 does not have environment sealing so wet conditions could ruin the camera.

The Olympus SH-2 comes with a 3 inch fixed display having a resolution of 460 thousand dots.

Additionally the display is touch friendly which means that you will be able to shift focus points plus adjust settings using your fingertips.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

The View Finder specifications regarding Olympus SH-2 are as follows:

• ViewFinder None

Viewfinders are rather handy during sunny outdoor situations which can easily make the camera display washed out and difficult to view.

Olympus SH-2 has the ability to shoot continuously at 11.5 frames per second. The highest shutter speed is 1/2000s.

Olympus SH-2 boasts just in-built flash lacking external flash support.

Olympus SH-2 boasts only Contrast Detect AF and does not have Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection focusing is more snappier & precise as compared to Contrast Detect focusing. The camera comes with Face detect which is useful for portraits.

Olympus SH-2 has touch to focus. You can use your fingers to adjust focus points. It also boasts Tracking AF for moving things. Olympus SH-2 lacks manual focus. Manual focus option can be good during low light occasions or you require more accurate focusing control.

The battery life (LI-92B) on the Olympus SH-2 is made to last for 380 pictures according to the CIPA standards which is higher than average when compared to its class. The average Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR comes with the best (600) battery life within this range of cameras.

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

ModelVisualizeBattery LifeRAWNFCBluetooth

Fujifilm HS35EXR
SH-2 vs Fujifilm HS35EXR600 yesnono

Nikon B500
SH-2 vs B500600 nonoyes

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Nikon L840
SH-2 vs L840590 noyesno

Panasonic FZ200
SH-2 vs FZ200540 yesnono

Leica V-Lux 4
SH-2 vs V-Lux 4540 yesnono

The following chart displays a outline of the Olympus SH-2 for different kinds of photography. To understand more, have a look at the specific section underneath.

The Olympus SH-2 receives a points tally of 44 which is horrible, and means the camera is not acceptable to use for portrait photos. Photographing portraits leans greatly towards sensor resolution, RAW support and ability to work with external lighting.

Coming in at a nice rating of 70, the Olympus SH-2 is a fine fit to buy for street photography. A decent street photography camera provides a perfect balance of picture quality and portability.

A average sports photography points total of 51 suggests the Olympus SH-2 is relatively acceptable for taking photos of sports. A camera really should have great autofocus plus fast shutter speeds for sports photography.

Weight is really critical when buying a travel camera. Overall, the Olympus SH-2 gets a very good 74 as a travel camera which is a respectable pick to take with you on your vacations.

For those who are looking to purchase a digital camera for landscape photos, the most important factor is going to be image quality. The Olympus SH-2 and it's moderate grade of 55 as a landscape camera is relatively adequate within the current marketplace.

A vlogging camera should posses a moving display, mic input and preferably IBIS. Taking all things in to account, the Olympus SH-2 is not acceptable as a vlog camera as it delivers a horrible rating of 35.

If you are looking for replacements to the SH-2, below is a collection of the top placed cameras that fall within the class of Small Sensor Superzoom.

The graph here shows you an overview of the SH-2 versus it's highest ranked competitors suggested earlier.

Following are several cameras you may see as alternative options. To read a comprehensive comparison, just click on the "compare" link.