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Canon G9 X vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Comparison

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Camera to replace
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Canon G9 X

20 MP | 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Canon G9 X
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS

12 MP | 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) CMOS Sensor

Olympus XZ-2 iHS
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Canon G9 X vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing G9 X and XZ-2 iHS, two Compact cameras from Canon and Olympus. Canon PowerShot G9 X is a Large Sensor Compact class camera and Olympus XZ-2 iHS is a Small Sensor Compact class camera.

Canon G9 X was introduced to the market in October 2015 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS was launched in December 2012. As you can see, XZ-2 iHS is 3 years older than G9 X. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Canon G9 X and Olympus XZ-2 iHS before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Canon G9 X Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2015-10-12
  • 20MP - 1' BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 125 - 12800
  • 28-84 mm F2.0-4.9 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 6.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 209g. 98 x 58 x 31 mm

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2012-12-18
  • 12MP - 1/1.7-inch CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 28-112 mm F1.8-2.5 Zoom Lens
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 346g. 113 x 65 x 48 mm

Canon G9 X was replaced by Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II vs Canon PowerShot G9 X
Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Canon G9 X and Olympus XZ-2 iHS compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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Canon G9 X Canon G9 X
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS Olympus XZ-2 iHS
See at AMAZON
Canon G9 X
See at AMAZON
Olympus XZ-2 iHS
See at AMAZON
Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot G9 X over Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs Eye-Fi Connected Better connectivity
Sensor Resolution
20 MP vs 12 MP 66% more pixels
LCD Resolution
1.040k dots vs 920k dots 13% higher resolution screen
Weight
209 g vs 346 g 137 g lighter
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs No creative shooting
Color Depth
21.5 vs 20.4 higher color depth
Dynamic Range
12.3 vs 11.3 higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO
495 vs 216 better High ISO performance
Sensor Pixel Area
5.82µm2 vs 3.52µm2 65% larger pixel area
NFC Connection
Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone
CHECK G9 X PRICE


Reasons to choose Olympus XZ-2 iHS over Canon PowerShot G9 X
LCD Screen
Tilting vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
Internal Storage
55 MB vs None Extra built-in storage
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
Battery Life
340 shots vs 220 shots 120 more frames with a single charge
Microphone Port
Yes vs No High quality audio recording option
Focal Length - Tele
112mm vs 84mm 28 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
4x vs 3x more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
1.80 vs 2.00 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
2.50 vs 4.90 faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage
8.6m vs 6.0m 2.6m longer range
AE Bracketing
Yes vs No Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Built-in ND Filter
Yes vs No Use larger aperture under strong light
CHECK XZ-2 iHS PRICE

Common Strengths of Canon PowerShot G9 X and Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Image Stabilization
Optical vs Sensor-shift Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Touch Screen
Yes vs Yes Easy control of camera functions
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Manual Focusing
Yes vs Yes both have manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure
Yes vs Yes better exposure control
Common Weaknesses of Canon PowerShot G9 X and Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Canon G9 X vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS: Physical Specs and Body Features Comparison

Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, we are going to illustrate the Canon G9 X and Olympus XZ-2 iHS side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Canon G9 X has external dimensions of 98 x 58 x 31 mm (3.86 x 2.28 x 1.21″) and weighs 209 g (0.46 lb / 7.37 oz) (including batteries). Olympus XZ-2 iHS has external dimensions of 113 x 65 x 48 mm (4.45 x 2.56 x 1.89″) and weighs 346 g (0.76 lb / 12.20 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Canon G9 X and the Olympus XZ-2 iHS. Canon G9 X is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 15mm narrower, 7mm shorter and 17mm thinner than Olympus XZ-2 iHS.

Canon G9 X vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of the Canon G9 X and the Olympus XZ-2 iHS Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Canon G9 X and Olympus XZ-2 iHS.
Canon G9 X vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of the Canon G9 X and the Olympus XZ-2 iHS Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Canon G9 X is significantly lighter (137g ) than the Olympus XZ-2 iHS which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

G9 X
XZ-2 iHS
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

G9 X
XZ-2 iHS
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither the Canon PowerShot G9 X nor Olympus XZ-2 iHS provides any type of weather sealing in their bodies, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Canon G9 X and Olympus XZ-2 iHS's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 3.00 inches.

On the other hand, Olympus XZ-2 iHS features a Tilting screen where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over-the-head levels whereas the Canon G9 X has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to XZ-2 iHS.


Canon G9 X vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS: Sensor Comparison

Canon G9 X has a 20.0MP 1' (13.2 x 8.8 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features DIGIC 6 processor. On the other hand, Olympus XZ-2 iHS has a 12.0MP 1/1.7-inch (7.44 x 5.58 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Canon G9 X's sensor provides 8MP more than Olympus XZ-2 iHS's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Below you can see the G9 X and XZ-2 iHS sensor size comparison.

Canon G9 X vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon G9 X and Olympus XZ-2 iHS Cameras


As seen above, Canon G9 X has a 2.8x Larger sensor area than Olympus XZ-2 iHS. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

Both Canon G9 X and Olympus XZ-2 iHS sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, G9 X has scored 63, 14 points higher than XZ-2 iHS.

Model Overall Color Depth Dynamic Range Low-light ISO
Canon G9 X 63 21.5 bits 12.3 Evs 495 ISO
Olympus XZ-2 iHS 49 20.4 bits 11.3 Evs 216 ISO
Canon G9 X vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Lens Specs Comparison

Canon G9 X features a 28-84 mm F2.0-4.9 3x zoom lens whereas Olympus XZ-2 iHS features a 28-112 mm F1.8-2.5 4x zoom lens.

Both cameras have a wide angle coverage of 28mm. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f1.80, Olympus XZ-2 iHS is faster than Canon G9 X at this focal length. On the tele end, Olympus XZ-2 iHS has 28mm longer reach than the Canon G9 X. At f2.50, it is also faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

G9 X
XZ-2 iHS
Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

G9 X
XZ-2 iHS
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

G9 X
XZ-2 iHS
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

G9 X
XZ-2 iHS
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Canon G9 X and Olympus XZ-2 iHS Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Canon G9 X and Olympus XZ-2 iHS for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Canon G9 X for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Olympus XZ-2 iHS for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Optional External Viewfinder
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Canon G9 X for Street Photography

GOOD

Olympus XZ-2 iHS for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.00
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f1.80
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Optional External Viewfinder
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
Read the details

Canon G9 X for Sports Photography

POOR

Olympus XZ-2 iHS for Sports Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Wireless Connection
Average Continuous Shooting: 6.0fps
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 220 shots
84 mm Tele Lens
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
35 Focus Points
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
112 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Canon G9 X for Daily Photography

GOOD

Olympus XZ-2 iHS for Daily Photography

GOOD
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
209g
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
3.0X Optical Zoom
Read the details
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
4.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
346g
Body Thickness 48mm
Read the details

Canon G9 X for Landscape Photography

POOR

Olympus XZ-2 iHS for Landscape Photography

POOR
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Canon G9 X vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far, but in case you wonder how we rated Canon G9 X and Olympus XZ-2 iHS, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Canon G9 X and Olympus XZ-2 iHS scores compare:

Canon G9 X
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #7 out of 478 in Compact cameras
Ranked #303 out of 1276 in all Cameras
Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #9 out of 478 in Compact cameras
Ranked #306 out of 1276 in all Cameras

Canon G9 X
Canon G9 X
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Olympus XZ-2 iHS
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Canon G9 X Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Canon PowerShot G9 X Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Brand Canon Olympus
Announced 2015-10-12 2012-12-18
Body Type Compact Compact
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Size 1' 1/1.7-inch
Dimensions 13.2 x 8.8 mm 7.44 x 5.58 mm
Area 116.16mm2 41.52mm2
Megapixels 20 megapixels 12 megapixels
Max Resolution 5472 x 3648 3968 x 2976
Max Native Light sensitivity 12,800 ISO 12,800 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 125 ISO 100 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points n/a 35
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 28-84 mm (3x) 28-112 mm (4x)
Max Aperture F2.0-4.9 F1.8-2.5
Macro Focus Range 5cm 1cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Tilting
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 1,040k dots 920k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Optical Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 6.00 m (at Auto ISO) 8.60 m (ISO 800)
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 6.0 fps n/a
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 209g 346g
Dimensions 98 x 58 x 31mm 113 x 65 x 48mm
Battery Life 220 shots 340 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 63 49
DxO Color Depth 21.5 20.4
DxO Dynamic Range 12.3 11.3
DxO Low Light ISO 495 216
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