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Nikon S32 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS

Portability
90
Imaging
36
Features
23
Overall
30
Nikon Coolpix S32 front
 
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
Portability
85
Imaging
36
Features
67
Overall
48

Nikon S32 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Key Specs

Nikon S32
(Full Review)
  • 13MP - 1/3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 1600
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 30-90mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 175g - 108 x 66 x 40mm
  • Introduced February 2014
Olympus XZ-2 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • 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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Nikon S32 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Overview

On this page, we will be analyzing the Nikon S32 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Nikon and Olympus. The resolution of the S32 (13MP) and the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) is pretty close but the S32 (1/3") and XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") boast different sensor sizing.

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The S32 was announced 14 months after the XZ-2 iHS which makes them a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a short overview of how the S32 scores vs the XZ-2 iHS in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Nikon S32 over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 S32 XZ-2 iHS 
IntroducedFebruary 2014December 2012Newer by 14 months

Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Nikon S32

 XZ-2 iHS S32 
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Nikon S32 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 S32 XZ-2 iHS 
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Nikon S32 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera, you'll need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Nikon S32 enjoys external dimensions of 108mm x 66mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.6") with a weight of 175 grams (0.39 lbs) whilst the Olympus XZ-2 iHS has dimensions of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") and a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs).

Check the Nikon S32 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the S32 vs the XZ-2 iHS.

Nikon S32 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the S32 and XZ-2 iHS is 90 and 85 respectively.

Nikon S32 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS top view buttons comparison

Nikon S32 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions just by researching technical specs. The image here will give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the S32 and XZ-2 iHS.

As you can tell, both of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The S32 using its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF harder and the Nikon S32 will render greater detail with its extra 1MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The fresher S32 should have an edge in sensor innovation.

Nikon S32 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS sensor size comparison

Nikon S32 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S32 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon S32
Portrait photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
33
decent megapixels (13MP)
provides face detection focusing
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/3")
no RAW format
45
focusing manually
features face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Nikon S32 as a Street photography camera
Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Street photography camera
60
has image stabilization (Digital)
environment proof
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/3")
no RAW format
65
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
more heavy than competition in class (346 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S32 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Sports photography camera
36
has image stabilization (Digital)
decent megapixels (13 megapixels)
environment proof
max frames per second low (5.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/3")
low battery power (220 per charge)
no phase detect AF
43
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking autofocus
great battery pack (340 per charge)
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S32 Travel photography info
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Travel photography info
58
environment proof
decent megapixels (13MP)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse function
low battery power (220 per charge)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (30mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
61
great battery pack (340 shots)
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition in class (346 grams)
resolution not great (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon S32
Landscape photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
34
has image stabilization (Digital)
decent megapixels (13 megapixels)
environment proof
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (30mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is small (1/3")
no RAW format
low battery power (220 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
54
focusing manually
relatively wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (340 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon S32
Vlogging with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
30
has image stabilization (Digital)
provides face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
wide angle not the best (30mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic jack
36
relatively wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external microphone socket
does not posses selfie friendly display
more heavy than competition in class (346 grams)
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Nikon S32 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S32 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS
 Nikon Coolpix S32Olympus XZ-2 iHS
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Olympus
Model Nikon Coolpix S32 Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Type Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2014-02-07 2012-12-18
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/3" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 4.8 x 3.6mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 17.3mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 13MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 4160 x 3120 3968 x 2976
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 35
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 30-90mm (3.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus distance 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 7.5 4.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT LCD with anti-reflection coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per second -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.10 m 8.60 m (ISO 800)
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920x1080 (30p), VGA 640x480 (30p, 15p) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 175 gr (0.39 lb) 346 gr (0.76 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 66 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.6") 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 220 pictures 340 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL19 Li-90B
Self timer Yes (Approx. 10 seconds ) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD / SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $180 $450