Canon SD4000 IS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS

Below, we will be analyzing the Canon SD4000 IS and Olympus XZ-2 iHS, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by companies Canon and Olympus. The sensor resolution of the SD4000 IS (10MP) and the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) is relatively comparable but the SD4000 IS (1/2.3") and XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") feature different sensor sizes.

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The SD4000 IS was announced 3 years before the XZ-2 iHS which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a full comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the SD4000 IS scores vs the XZ-2 iHS when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Canon PowerShot SD4000 IS and Olympus XZ-2 iHS. The whole galleries are provided at Canon SD4000 IS Gallery and Olympus XZ-2 iHS Gallery.

For anyone who is going to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to think about its weight and size. The Canon SD4000 IS comes with physical measurements of 100mm x 54mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 175 grams (0.39 lbs) and the Olympus XZ-2 iHS has specifications of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") along with a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SD4000 IS and Olympus XZ-2 iHS in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the SD4000 IS and the XZ-2 iHS.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SD4000 IS and XZ-2 iHS is 94 and 85 respectively.

Typically, it is hard to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by seeing specifications. The image below may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the SD4000 IS and XZ-2 iHS.

To sum up, both of those cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The SD4000 IS using its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field tougher and the Olympus XZ-2 iHS will provide more detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more aged SD4000 IS will be behind with regard to sensor tech.