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Nikon S30 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS

Portability
90
Imaging
33
Features
18
Overall
27
Nikon Coolpix S30 front
 
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49

Nikon S30 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Key Specs

Nikon S30
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 29-87mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 214g - 102 x 65 x 40mm
  • Launched February 2012
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
  • Announced December 2012
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Nikon S30 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Nikon S30 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by competitors Nikon and Olympus. The sensor resolution of the S30 (10MP) and the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) is very similar but the S30 (1/3") and XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") provide different sensor dimensions.

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The S30 was launched 10 months prior to the XZ-2 iHS and they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the S30 grades vs the XZ-2 iHS with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S30 over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 S30 XZ-2 iHS 

Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Nikon S30

 XZ-2 iHS S30 
AnnouncedDecember 2012February 2012Newer by 10 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Nikon S30 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 S30 XZ-2 iHS 
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Nikon S30 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera often, you will need to take into account its weight and volume. The Nikon S30 provides physical dimensions of 102mm x 65mm x 40mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.6") having a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) and the Olympus XZ-2 iHS has sizing of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") having a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon S30 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the S30 versus the XZ-2 iHS.

Nikon S30 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the S30 and XZ-2 iHS is 90 and 85 respectively.

Nikon S30 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS top view buttons comparison

Nikon S30 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sensor Comparison

Often, it's tough to visualize the difference between sensor dimensions merely by reading technical specs. The picture here will provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the S30 and XZ-2 iHS.

As you can tell, each of these cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The S30 because of its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Olympus XZ-2 iHS will offer you more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more aged S30 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Nikon S30 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS sensor size comparison

Nikon S30 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S30 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S30 Portrait photography advice
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Portrait photography advice
25
has face detection focus
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
small sensor (1/3")
has no RAW files
46
focusing manually
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Nikon S30 as a Street photography camera
Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Street photography camera
51
weather proof
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/3")
has no RAW files
heavier than others in class (214g)
66
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
heavier than competition in class (346g)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S30 Sports photography features
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sports photography features
29
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
weather proof
max fps very slow (1.5 fps)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/3")
has no phase detect auto focus
43
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking focus
better than average battery (340 per charge)
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon S30
Travel photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
52
weather proof
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
heavier than others in class (214g)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (29mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
61
better than average battery (340 shots)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than competition in class (346 grams)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S30 Landscape photography advice
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Landscape photography advice
26
weather proof
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (29mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
small sensor (1/3")
has no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
55
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (340 CIPA)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon S30
Vlogging with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
23
has face detection focus
wide angle not great (29mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic support
heavier than others in class (214 grams)
36
quite wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has mic port
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
heavier than competition in class (346 grams)
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Nikon S30 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S30 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS
 Nikon Coolpix S30Olympus XZ-2 iHS
General Information
Company Nikon Olympus
Model Nikon Coolpix S30 Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-02-01 2012-12-18
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 4.8 x 3.6mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 17.3mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 3968 x 2976
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 35
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 29-87mm (3.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus range 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 7.5 4.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT-LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.5 frames per second -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 8.60 m (ISO 800)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 214g (0.47 pounds) 346g (0.76 pounds)
Physical dimensions 102 x 65 x 40mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.6") 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 49
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.3
DXO Low light score not tested 216
Other
Battery life 240 images 340 images
Form of battery AA Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA Li-90B
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $119 $450