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Olympus XZ-2 iHS Review

  • Overview
  • Alternatives
  • Olympus XZ-2 iHS

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    Main Features

    • 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
    • 346g. 113 x 65 x 48 mm
    CHECK PRICE
    CHECK PRICE

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Overview

    First introduced in December 2012 , Olympus XZ-2 iHS is a 12.0MP Small Sensor Compact camera with a 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm ) sized CMOS sensor, built-in Image Stabilization , Tilting touch screen and 28-112 mm F1.8-2.5 lens.

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Review - Click for Table of Contents

    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. Sensor and Photography Features
    4. Physical Specs
    5. LCD and Viewfinder
    6. Connectivity, Storage and Battery
    7. Video
    8. Other Features
    9. Lens
    10. Photography Type Scores
    11. Alternatives
    12. Popular Comparisons
    13. Frequently Asked Questions
    14. Detailed Specifications

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS has an Overall Score of 61/100 and ranked #8 out of 629 in Compact cameras (Top 10 Compact), and ranked #285 out of 1220 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

    Main Scores
    Imaging
    Features
    Value for Money
    Portability
    Overall Score
    Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras.



    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Physical Specs
    Olympus XZ-2 iHS weighs 346 g (0.76 lb / 12.20 oz) and has external dimensions of 113 x 65 x 48 mm (4.45 x 2.56 x 1.89″). Considering that the average weight of Compact type cameras is 188g, Olympus XZ-2 iHS is a significantly heavy camera for its class. With a thickness of 48mm, it is not small either, 19mm thicker than the average of its class.
    Weight Comparison

    Compact Cameras

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS
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    Average
    Max
    Thickness Comparison

    Compact Cameras

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Here is the front and top view image of Olympus XZ-2 iHS with the dimensions:

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Body Size Dimensions
    Front and Top View External Dimensions and Size of Olympus XZ-2 iHS Camera Body

    In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Olympus XZ-2 iHS, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.


    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Body Size Compared to a Credit card and a Battery
    Physical size of the Olympus XZ-2 iHS Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery

    Now lets compare the weight and thickness of Olympus XZ-2 iHS with its main competitors:

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Size Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Weight vs XZ-2 iHS Thickness vs XZ-2 iHS
    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Camera Olympus XZ-1
    Compare
    275g 71g lighter 42mm 6mm thinner
    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Camera Pentax MX-1
    Compare
    391g 45g heavier 51mm 3mm thicker
    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Camera Olympus XZ-10
    Compare
    221g 125g lighter 34mm 14mm thinner
    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Camera Panasonic LX7
    Compare
    298g 48g lighter 46mm 2mm thinner
    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Camera Sony RX100
    Compare
    240g 106g lighter 36mm 12mm thinner
    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Camera Olympus 1
    Compare
    402g 56g heavier 57mm 9mm thicker
    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Camera Samsung EX2F
    Compare
    294g 52g lighter 29mm 19mm thinner
    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Camera Fujifilm X30
    Compare
    423g 77g heavier 60mm 12mm thicker

    Weather Sealing

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sensor and Photography Features

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS has a 12.0MP 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm ) sized CMOS sensor . You can shoot at maximum resolution of 3968 x 2976 pixels with aspect ratios of and 4:3. XZ-2 iHS has a native ISO range of 100 - 12800 and it can save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS is not the highest resolution Small Sensor camera. Kodak Astro Zoom AZ651 with its 21.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Kodak Astro Zoom AZ651 or take a look at Highest resolution Compact cameras list.

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS DxOMark Sensor Scores

    DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. Olympus XZ-2 iHS sensor has been tested by DxO Mark and got an overall score of 49 for its image quality. You can find the details of their analysis of Olympus XZ-2 iHS here.

    Let's look at how the size of the Olympus XZ-2 iHS's 1/1.7" sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sensor Size Comparison
    Comparison image of Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sensor Size with other standard sensors

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Lens

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS features a 28-112 mm F1.8-2.5 4x zoom lens. Lens has a good wide angle capability starting at 28mm, and 112mm on the tele end means that the medium telephoto angle is also well covered, only lacking the reach for wildlife and sports.

    Wide Coverage

    Compact Cameras

    XZ-2 iHS
    Widest - Ricoh WG-M1
    Average
    Telezoom

    Compact Cameras

    XZ-2 iHS
    Longest - Canon SX520 HS
    Average

    Providing a max aperture of f1.80 at 28mm, this lens is remarkably fast on wide end. Even better, having an aperture of f2.50 on tele end, this lens is exceptionally fast through out its range.

    Max Aperture at Wide

    Compact Cameras

    XZ-2 iHS
    Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
    Average
    Max Aperture at Tele

    Compact Cameras

    XZ-2 iHS
    Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
    Average

    XZ-2 iHS is also equipped with Sensor-shift image stabilization system which is very handy especially at lower shutter speeds. Olympus XZ-2 iHS's lens also has a Manual Focus Mode.



    Olympus XZ-2 iHS LCD

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS has a Tilting 3" LCD screen with a resolution of 920k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.

    LCD is Touch screen type, so you can change the settings and set the focus point with your fingertips.

    XZ-2 iHS doesn't have a built-in viewfinder but an optional external viewfinder is available. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Compact camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider Nikon Coolpix P7800 (Compare) or Fujifilm X30 (Compare).
    If the price is not an issue, take a look at our Top Rated Cameras with Viewfinders.

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Connectivity, Storage and Battery

    You can connect XZ-2 iHS to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.

    Battery

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS is powered by battery which provides a shooting life of 340 according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of Compact type cameras is 255 shots, Olympus XZ-2 iHS has a good battery life for its class.

    Battery Life Comparison in Small Sensor Compact Cameras

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Fujifilm X30 with its 470shots is the model with longest battery life among Small Sensor Compact cameras. Check the comparison of Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Fujifilm X30 or take a look at Longest Battery Life Compact cameras list.

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Features Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Max Video Battery Life Wi-fi Bluetooth NFC
    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Camera Olympus XZ-1
    Compare
    1280 x 720 320shots No No No
    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Camera Pentax MX-1
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 290shots No No No
    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Camera Olympus XZ-10
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 240shots No No No
    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Camera Panasonic LX7
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 330shots No No No
    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Camera Sony RX100
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 330shots No No Yes
    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Camera Olympus 1
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 410shots Yes No No
    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Camera Samsung EX2F
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 shots Yes No No
    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Camera Fujifilm X30
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 470shots Yes No No

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Video Features

    With Olympus XZ-2 iHS, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 30 fps and save in MPEG-4 and H.264 formats. Full HD resolution of Olympus XZ-2 iHS will be adequate in most of the situations. But if you are after the highest resolution videos available, see our list of Top Cameras with 4K (Ultra-HD) Video.

    XZ-2 iHS has a built-in Stereo microphone and a Mono speaker. Olympus XZ-2 iHS also has a port for an external microphone so you can record high quality sound with the help of an external microphone.

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Other Features

    Max Shutter speed

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS can shoot continuously at max speed of Unknown and has max shutter speed of 1/2000 sec.

    Flash

    XZ-2 iHS has a built-in flash, and it also has a flash shoe to mount your external flashes too.

    Focusing

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 35 points to choose from.

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS PROs and CONs Review

    Now let's get in to more details of our Olympus XZ-2 iHS review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

    PROs
    Image Stabilization
    Articulating Screen
    External Flash Shoe
    Full HD Video
    Touch Screen
    Electronic (Optional) Optional Viewfinder
    RAW Shooting
    Face Detection Focusing
    12.800 Max ISO
    35 Focus Points
    920k dots LCD Resolution
    Long Battery Life (340 shots)
    Manual Focusing
    Manual Exposure
    External Microphone Port
    Fast 1.80 Lens at Wide
    Fast 2.50 Lens at Tele
    AE Bracketing
    Built-in ND Filter
    Report a correction

    Buy Olympus XZ-2 iHS from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO


    CONs
    No Wireless Connection
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    Low Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
    Heavy Body: 346
    No Environmental Sealing
    Poor Low Light image quality
    Report a correction
    What type of Photography is Olympus XZ-2 iHS Good for?
    In this section, we review and score Olympus XZ-2 iHS in 5 different photography areas.

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS for Portrait Photography

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS has a score of 58 for Portrait Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Portrait Photography list.
    Image Stabilization
    RAW shooting capability
    External Flash Shoe
    Manual Focus Mode
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
    Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
    Not so good Ergonomics&Handling

    Read the details of how we scored Olympus XZ-2 iHS for Portrait Photography

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS for Street Photography

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS has a score of 89 for Street Photography which makes it an EXCELLENT candidate for this type of photography.
    Manual Focus Mode
    Live-view
    Face-Detection Focusing
    Tilting LCD Screen
    Image Stabilization
    Fast Lens at Wide: f1.80
    28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
    RAW shooting capability
    Small Body
    Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor

    Read the details of how we scored Olympus XZ-2 iHS for Street Photography

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS for Sports Photography

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS has a score of 32 for Sports Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Sports We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Sports Photography list and consider these alternatives over theXZ-2 iHS.
    35 Focus Points
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Manual Focus Mode
    External Flash Shoe
    Image Stabilization
    RAW shooting capability
    Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
    Environmental Sealings
    Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
    112 mm Tele Lens

    Read the details of how we scored Olympus XZ-2 iHS for Sports Photography

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS for Daily Photography

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS has a score of 70 for Daily Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Daily Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Compact Cameras for Daily Photography list.
    Compact Body
    RAW shooting capability
    4.0X Optical Zoom
    346g
    Body Thickness 48mm
    Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor

    Read the details of how we scored Olympus XZ-2 iHS for Daily Photography

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS for Landscape Photography

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS has a score of 34 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theXZ-2 iHS.
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Manual Focus Mode
    28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
    RAW shooting capability
    Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
    Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
    No Environmental Sealings

    Read the details of how we scored Olympus XZ-2 iHS for Landscape Photography
    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Alternatives
    In this section, we analyse how Olympus XZ-2 iHS compares with other Compact cameras within a similar price range.
    Read a more detailed analysis of Olympus XZ-2 iHS alternatives.

    Popular Comparisons of Olympus XZ-2 iHS

    Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Olympus XZ-2 iHS amongst Camera Decision readers.

    Olympus XZ-1
    Olympus XZ-1
    Compare
    Pentax MX-1
    Pentax MX-1
    Compare
    Olympus XZ-10
    Olympus XZ-10
    Compare
    Panasonic LX7
    Panasonic LX7
    Compare
    Sony RX100
    Sony RX100
    Compare
    Olympus 1
    Olympus 1
    Compare
    Samsung EX2F
    Samsung EX2F
    Compare
    Fujifilm X30
    Fujifilm X30
    Compare

    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Alternatives in Cameras

    It would also be interesting to compare Olympus XZ-2 iHS with Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked cameras in Olympus XZ-2 iHS's price range.

    Frequently Asked Questions about Olympus XZ-2 iHS
    Does the Olympus XZ-2 iHS have Image Stabilization?
    Does the Olympus XZ-2 iHS have RAW support?
    Does the Olympus XZ-2 iHS have Weather Sealing?
    Does the Olympus XZ-2 iHS have built-in GPS?
    What is the Max ISO of Olympus XZ-2 iHS?
    What is the Sensor Size of Olympus XZ-2 iHS?
    is the Olympus XZ-2 iHS a Full Frame (FF) camera?
    Does the Olympus XZ-2 iHS have Touch Screen?
    Does the Olympus XZ-2 iHS have built-in Wireless?
    What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Olympus XZ-2 iHS?
    What is the Weight of Olympus XZ-2 iHS?
    What are the Dimensions of Olympus XZ-2 iHS?
    Olympus XZ-2 iHS Detailed Specifications

    General
    Brand Olympus
    Model Olympus XZ-2 iHS
    Announced 2012-12-18
    Body Type Compact
    Lens
    Manual Focus
    Lens Mount fixed lens
    Lens Focal Range 28-112 mm (4x)
    Max Aperture F1.8-2.5
    Macro Focus Range 1cm
    Screen
    Screen Type Tilting
    Screen Size 3"
    Screen Resolution 920k dots
    Live View
    Touch Screen
    Viewfinder
    Viewfinder Electronic (optional)
    Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Coverage n/a
    Viewfinder Magnification n/a
    Photography Features
    Min Shutter Speed 60s
    Max Mechanical Shutter Speed 1/2000s
    Continuous Shooting n/a
    Shutter Priority
    Aperture Priority
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Exposure Compensation Yes
    Custom White Balance
    Image Stabilization
    Built-in Flash
    Flash Range 8.60 m (ISO 800)
    Flash Modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless
    External Flash
    AE Bracketing
    WB Bracketing
    Exposure Modes
    Multi-Segment
    Average
    Spot
    Partial
    AF-Area
    Center Weighted
    DxO Sensor Scores
    DxO Overall Score 49
    DxO Color Depth 20.4
    DxO Dynamic Range 11.3
    DxO Low Light ISO 216
    Report a correction

    Sensor
    Sensor Type CMOS
    Sensor Size 1/1.7"
    Sensor Dimensions 7.44 x 5.58 mm
    Sensor Area 41.52mm2
    Sensor Resolution 12 megapixels
    Max Image Resolution 3968 x 2976
    Max Native ISO 12,800
    Min Native ISO 100
    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 35
    Number of Cross Focus Points Unknown
    Video Features
    Video Resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
    Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080
    Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264
    Microphone Port
    Headphone Port
    Connectivity
    Wireless Connectivity Eye-Fi Connected
    HDMI
    USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
    Physical
    Environmental Sealing
    Water Proof
    Dust Proof
    Shock Proof
    Crush Proof
    Freeze Proof
    Weight 346g
    Physical Dimensions 113 x 65 x 48mm
    Battery Life 340 shots
    Battery Type Battery Pack
    Battery Model Li-90B
    Other Features
    Self Timer Yes (2 or 12 sec)
    Timelapse Recording
    GPS None
    Storage Type SD/SDHC/SDXC
    Storage Slots 1


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