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Canon G9 X vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS

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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
$422.91
or
BUY
Change

Olympus XZ-2 iHS

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

Olympus XZ-2 iHS
$399.00
or
BUY
Canon G9 X vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two Compact cameras from Canon and Olympus. Canon G9 X has a 20.0MP 1" sensor whereas Olympus XZ-2 iHS has a 12.0MP 1/1.7" sensor.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of 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″ Fixed Type Screen
  • 6.0 fps continuous shooting
  • 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" CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 28-112 mm F1.8-2.5 Zoom Lens
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3″ Tilting Screen
  • Unknown continuous shooting
  • 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

Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot G9 X over Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Wireless Connection Built-In vs Eye-Fi Connected Better connectivity
Max Sensor Resolution 20 MP vs 12 MP 66% more pixels
LCD Screen 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 control Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone
Reasons to choose Olympus XZ-2 iHS over Canon PowerShot G9 X
Articulating Screen Yes vs No Flexible shooting positions
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
Price $399 vs $423 $24 cheaper
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
Common Strengths of Canon PowerShot G9 X and Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Image Stabilization Optical vs Sensor-shift All the lenses are stabilized
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 Comparison

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Canon G9 X and 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
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

Canon G9 X vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Detailed Size Comparison

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
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" (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


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.

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 - Ricoh WG-M1
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

GOOD
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
3X Optical Zoom
Read the details
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
4X 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

AVERAGE

Olympus XZ-2 iHS for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE
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
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 63 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 #4 out of 469 in Compact cameras
Ranked #220 out of 1166 in all Cameras
Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #7 out of 469 in Compact cameras
Ranked #240 out of 1166 in all Cameras

Canon G9 X has a higher Overall Score than the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Canon G9 X
Canon G9 X
$422.91

Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Olympus XZ-2 iHS
$399.00

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
Price $422.91 $399.00
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Size 1" 1/1.7"
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″ 3″
Resolution 1,040k dots 920k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Photography Features
Max Shutter Speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
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
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
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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