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Samsung NX100 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Comparison

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Samsung NX100

15 MP | APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm) CMOS Sensor

Samsung NX100
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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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Samsung NX100 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Samsung NX100, which was introduced in September 2010 is a Entry-Level Mirrorless camera with a 15.0MP APS-C sensor whereas Olympus XZ-2 iHS, which was introduced in December 2012 is a Small Sensor Compact camera with a 12.0MP 1/1.7" sensor. As you can see, NX100 is 2 years older than XZ-2 iHS. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Comparing an interchangeble lens camera to a fixed lens camera is a bit tricky but we will do our best to make this a fair comparison.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Samsung NX100 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Samsung NX100 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2010-09-14
  • 15MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • Digital only Image Stabilization
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • 3 fps continuous shooting
  • HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • 282g. 120 x 71 x 35 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
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 346g. 113 x 65 x 48 mm

Samsung NX100 was replaced by Samsung NX200. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Samsung NX200 vs Samsung NX100
Samsung NX200 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Samsung NX100 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Samsung NX100 over Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Max Sensor Resolution
15 MP vs 12 MP 25% more pixels
Max Mech. Shutter
1/4000s vs 1/2000s faster mechanical shutter
Battery Life
420 shots vs 340 shots 80 more frames with a single charge
Weight
282 g vs 346 g 64 g lighter
Color Depth
22.6 vs 20.4 higher color depth
Low Light ISO
563 vs 216 better High ISO performance
Sensor Pixel Area
26.02µm2 vs 3.52µm2 639% larger pixel area


Reasons to choose Olympus XZ-2 iHS over Samsung NX100
LCD Screen
Tilting vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
Built-in Flash
Yes vs No Useful in low-light
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
Max ISO
12.800 vs 6.400 100% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
35 vs 15 20 more focus points
LCD Screen Resolution
920k dots vs 614k dots 49% higher resolution screen
Microphone Port
Yes vs No High quality audio recording option
Dynamic Range
11.3 vs 10.7 higher dynamic range
Max Video Resolution
1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720 Higher Resolution Video
Built-in ND Filter
Yes vs No Use larger aperture under strong light

Common Strengths of Samsung NX100 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Image Stabilization
Digital only vs Sensor-shift Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Viewfinder
Electronic (Optional) vs Electronic (Optional) Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
LCD Screen Resolution
614k dots vs 920k dots High resolution screens
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Common Weaknesses of Samsung NX100 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Samsung NX100 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Samsung NX100 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Samsung NX100 has external dimensions of 120 x 71 x 35 mm (4.72 x 2.8 x 1.38″) and weighs 282 g (0.62 lb / 9.95 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 Samsung NX100 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS. Olympus XZ-2 iHS is 7mm narrower and 6mm shorter than Samsung NX100 but it is also 13mm thicker. As you can tell, actually this is not a fair size comparison since Olympus XZ-2 iHS has a built-in lens but Samsung NX100 doesn't. Once you put a lens on NX100, its thickness will increase significantly.

Samsung NX100 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Samsung NX100 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Samsung NX100 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS.
Samsung NX100 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Samsung NX100 and 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. Samsung NX100 is significantly lighter (64g ) than the Olympus XZ-2 iHS which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Again, this comparison may not be very useful in real life as we are comparing the weight of a camera with a built-in lens to the body-only weight of an interchangeable lens camera. Once you put a lens on NX100, the total kit will weigh much higher.

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Samsung NX100 nor Olympus XZ-2 iHS provides any type of weather sealing in their body, 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 Mirrorless Cameras with Weather Sealing
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Samsung NX100 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3".

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 Samsung NX100 has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to XZ-2 iHS.
Samsung NX100 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS: Sensor Comparison

Samsung NX100 has a 15.0MP APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features DRIMe Engine 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 .

Below you can see the NX100 and XZ-2 iHS sensor size comparison.

Samsung NX100 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Samsung NX100 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS Cameras


As seen above, Samsung NX100 has a 8.8x 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 Samsung NX100 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, NX100 has scored 62, 13 points higher than XZ-2 iHS.

Model Overall Color Depth Dynamic Range Low-light ISO
Samsung NX100 62 22.6 bits 10.7 Evs 563 ISO
Olympus XZ-2 iHS 49 20.4 bits 11.3 Evs 216 ISO
What types of Photography are Samsung NX100 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Samsung NX100 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.

Samsung NX100 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Olympus XZ-2 iHS for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Large APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Average Resolution Sensor: 15.0MP
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Image Stabilization
External Flash Shoe
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

Samsung NX100 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Olympus XZ-2 iHS for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
Large APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Optional External Viewfinder
Medium sized Body
Read the details
Image Stabilization
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

Samsung NX100 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Olympus XZ-2 iHS for Sports Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
15 Focus Points
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 3.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Image Stabilization
External Flash Shoe
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

Samsung NX100 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Olympus XZ-2 iHS for Daily Photography

GOOD
Large APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm) sensor
282g
Medium size Body
Read the details
Compact Body
4.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
346g
Body Thickness 48mm
Read the details

Samsung NX100 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Olympus XZ-2 iHS for Landscape Photography

POOR
Large APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm) sensor
Live-view
Average Resolution Sensor: 15.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
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

Samsung NX100 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 Samsung NX100 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 Samsung NX100 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS scores compare:

Samsung NX100
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #100 out of 126 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #425 out of 1220 in all Cameras
Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #8 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #285 out of 1220 in all Cameras

Olympus XZ-2 iHS has a higher Overall Score than the Samsung NX100 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Samsung NX100
Samsung NX100
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Olympus XZ-2 iHS
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Samsung NX100 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Samsung NX100 Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Brand Samsung Olympus
Announced 2010-09-14 2012-12-18
Body Type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size APS-C 1/1.7"
Dimensions 23.4 x 15.6 mm 7.44 x 5.58 mm
Area 365.04mm2 41.52mm2
Megapixels 15 megapixels 12 megapixels
Max Resolution 4592 x 3056 3968 x 2976
Max Native Light sensitivity 6,400 ISO 12,800 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 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 15 35
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Samsung NX fixed lens
Lens Focal Range no lens 28-112 mm (4x)
Max Aperture no lens F1.8-2.5
Macro Focus Range no lens 1cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Tilting
Size 3" 3"
Resolution 614k dots 920k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic (optional)
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/4000s 1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Digital only Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Flash Range no built-in flash 8.60 m (ISO 800)
Max Flash Sync 1/180s n/a
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 3.0 fps n/a
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1280 x 720 1920 x 1080
Video Formats H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None Eye-Fi Connected
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 282g 346g
Dimensions 120 x 71 x 35mm 113 x 65 x 48mm
Battery Life 420 shots 340 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS Optional None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 62 49
DxO Color Depth 22.6 20.4
DxO Dynamic Range 10.7 11.3
DxO Low Light ISO 563 216
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