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 Panasonic FH5 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Panasonic FH5 has external dimensions of 94 x 54 x 19 mm (3.7 x 2.13 x 0.75″) and weighs 121 g (0.27 lb / 4.27 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 Panasonic FH5 and the Olympus XZ-2 iHS. Panasonic FH5 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 19mm narrower, 11mm shorter and 29mm thinner than Olympus XZ-2 iHS.
Now lets look at the top view comparison of Panasonic FH5 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS.
Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day.
Panasonic FH5 is significantly lighter (225g ) than the Olympus XZ-2 iHS which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.
Weather Sealing
Unfortunately neither the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 (Lumix DMC-FS18) 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
Olympus XZ-2 iHS's 3.00" LCD screen is slightly larger than Panasonic FH5's 2.7" screen.
In addition to the size advantage, Olympus XZ-2 iHS LCD screen also has a
Tilting feature where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over-the-head levels. On the other hand, Panasonic FH5 has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to XZ-2 iHS.