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Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS

Portability
87
Imaging
33
Features
28
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS front
 
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Key Specs

Canon SX120 IS
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-360mm (F2.8-4.3) lens
  • 285g - 111 x 71 x 45mm
  • Revealed August 2009
Olympus XZ-2 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 346g - 113 x 65 x 48mm
  • Introduced December 2012
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Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Overview

Following is a extensive assessment of the Canon SX120 IS and Olympus XZ-2 iHS, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by brands Canon and Olympus. The resolution of the SX120 IS (10MP) and the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) is very comparable but the SX120 IS (1/2.5") and XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") feature different sensor sizing.

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The SX120 IS was revealed 4 years before the XZ-2 iHS which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a more detailed comparison, below is a short summation of how the SX120 IS matches up against the XZ-2 iHS in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX120 IS over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 SX120 IS XZ-2 iHS 

Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Canon SX120 IS

 XZ-2 iHS SX120 IS 
IntroducedDecember 2012August 2009More modern by 40 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Canon SX120 IS and Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 SX120 IS XZ-2 iHS 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX120 IS has outer dimensions of 111mm x 71mm x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") and a weight of 285 grams (0.63 lbs) and the Olympus XZ-2 iHS has dimensions of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX120 IS and Olympus XZ-2 iHS in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you use during that time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the SX120 IS compared to the XZ-2 iHS.

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX120 IS and XZ-2 iHS is 87 and 85 respectively.

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes merely by going through a spec sheet. The image underneath will help give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX120 IS and XZ-2 iHS.

As you can see, both of these cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SX120 IS having a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Olympus XZ-2 iHS will show greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images much more aggressively. The more aged SX120 IS will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS sensor size comparison

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SX120 IS
Portrait photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
33
focusing manually
high flash sync (1/500 seconds)
can't use external flash
low megapixels (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
has no RAW format
46
has manual focus
includes face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX120 IS
Street photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.5")
has no RAW format
more heavy than competition in class (285g)
66
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
heavier than competitors (346g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX120 IS as a Sports photography camera
Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Sports photography camera
26
has image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
low megapixels (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
has no phase detect AF
43
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking autofocus
good battery power (340 shots)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Travel photography features
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Travel photography features
51
flash built-in
very long zoom (360mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition in class (285 grams)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (36mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
61
good battery power (340 shots)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
missing Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors (346 grams)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Landscape photography details
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Landscape photography details
36
focusing manually
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (36mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
low megapixels (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
has no RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording
55
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (340 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX120 IS Vlogging advice
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Vlogging advice
23
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (36mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of external microphone socket
more heavy than competition in class (285g)
36
quite wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external mic jack
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
heavier than competitors (346g)
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Canon SX120 IS vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX120 IS and Olympus XZ-2 iHS
 Canon PowerShot SX120 ISOlympus XZ-2 iHS
General Information
Brand Name Canon Olympus
Model type Canon PowerShot SX120 IS Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2009-08-19 2012-12-18
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 5.744 x 4.308mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 24.7mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 3:2 4:3
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 3968 x 2976
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 35
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 36-360mm (10.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-4.3 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 6.3 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2500 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 8.60 m (ISO 800)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/500 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 160 x 120 (15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 285 gr (0.63 pounds) 346 gr (0.76 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 71 x 45mm (4.4" x 2.8" x 1.8") 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 49
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 216
Other
Battery life - 340 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA Li-90B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $249 $450