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Nikon S3500 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS

Portability
95
Imaging
44
Features
25
Overall
36
Nikon Coolpix S3500 front
 
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49

Nikon S3500 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Key Specs

Nikon S3500
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-182mm (F3.4-6.4) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 58 x 21mm
  • Announced February 2013
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 S3500 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Overview

Below is a thorough comparison of the Nikon S3500 versus Olympus XZ-2 iHS, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by competitors Nikon and Olympus. There exists a sizeable gap among the image resolutions of the S3500 (20MP) and XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and the S3500 (1/2.3") and XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The S3500 was unveiled 3 months later than the XZ-2 iHS and they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving into a in depth comparison, here is a simple summation of how the S3500 grades vs the XZ-2 iHS in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon S3500 over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 S3500 XZ-2 iHS 

Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Nikon S3500

 XZ-2 iHS S3500 
Manually focus More exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Nikon S3500 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 S3500 XZ-2 iHS 
IntroducedFebruary 2013December 2012Same generation
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Nikon S3500 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and size. The Nikon S3500 comes with outside dimensions of 97mm x 58mm x 21mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Olympus XZ-2 iHS has specifications of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") and a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs).

Look at the Nikon S3500 versus Olympus XZ-2 iHS in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the S3500 vs the XZ-2 iHS.

Nikon S3500 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the S3500 and XZ-2 iHS is 95 and 85 respectively.

Nikon S3500 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS top view buttons comparison

Nikon S3500 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be tough to see the contrast in sensor measurements simply by looking through specifications. The graphic underneath may offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the S3500 and XZ-2 iHS.

To sum up, the 2 cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The S3500 with its smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field trickier and the Nikon S3500 will provide you with greater detail having an extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures more aggressively.

Nikon S3500 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS sensor size comparison

Nikon S3500 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S3500 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon S3500
Portrait photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
33
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
46
has manual focus
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Nikon S3500 Street photography information
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Street photography information
64
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (129 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
66
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
more heavy than competition (346g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon S3500
Sports photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
42
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
43
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (340 shots)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S3500 Travel photography info
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Travel photography info
69
lighter than others in class (129g)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
61
better than average battery life (340 shots)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (346 grams)
MP count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S3500 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Landscape photography camera
40
reasonably wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
no manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
small screen (2.7 inches)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
55
has manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (340 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S3500 Vlogging details
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Vlogging details
31
reasonably wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (129g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone socket
36
reasonably wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external microphone jack
screen is not selfie friendly
more heavy than competition (346 grams)
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Nikon S3500 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S3500 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS
 Nikon Coolpix S3500Olympus XZ-2 iHS
General Information
Company Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon Coolpix S3500 Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-02-21 2012-12-18
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 6.16 x 4.62mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 28.5mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 5152 x 3864 3968 x 2976
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 35
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-182mm (7.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-6.4 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 4.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT-LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 8.60 m (ISO 800)
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 129g (0.28 lb) 346g (0.76 lb)
Physical dimensions 97 x 58 x 21mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.8") 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photographs
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID - Li-90B
Self timer - Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media - SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $85 $450