Nikon S3500 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS

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.

Photography Glossary

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.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Nikon Coolpix S3500 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS. The full galleries are available at Nikon S3500 Gallery and Olympus XZ-2 iHS Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.