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Nikon Z50 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS

Portability
74
Imaging
68
Features
84
Overall
74
Nikon Z50 front
 
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Key Specs

Nikon Z50
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Bump to 204800)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 397g - 127 x 94 x 60mm
  • Launched October 2019
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
  • Launched December 2012
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Nikon Z50 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Nikon Z50 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Nikon and Olympus. There exists a sizeable gap between the image resolutions of the Z50 (21MP) and XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and the Z50 (APS-C) and XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") possess totally different sensor sizing.

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The Z50 was brought out 6 years later than the XZ-2 iHS and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Nikon Z50 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus XZ-2 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise summary of how the Z50 matches up against the XZ-2 iHS with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon Z50 over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 Z50 XZ-2 iHS 
LaunchedOctober 2019December 2012More recent by 83 months
Screen sizing3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1040k920kSharper screen (+120k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Nikon Z50

 XZ-2 iHS Z50 

Common features in the Nikon Z50 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 Z50 XZ-2 iHS 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Nikon Z50 has outer dimensions of 127mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") accompanied by a weight of 397 grams (0.88 lbs) while the Olympus XZ-2 iHS has measurements of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") with a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs).

Examine the Nikon Z50 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you choose at that time. Following is the front view size comparison of the Z50 versus the XZ-2 iHS.

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the Z50 and XZ-2 iHS is 74 and 85 respectively.

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS top view buttons comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements only by going over technical specs. The visual here might give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the Z50 and XZ-2 iHS.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The Z50 due to its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Nikon Z50 will offer you more detail having its extra 9MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots far more aggressively. The more modern Z50 will have an advantage in sensor tech.

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS sensor size comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon Z50
Portrait photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
80
manual focus
MP count decent (21 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
46
focusing manually
includes face detect focusing
saves RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Nikon Z50 Street photography details
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Street photography details
73
tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
offers focus by touch
weather proofing
great ISO range (51,200)
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition (397 grams)
66
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
heavier than competitors in class (346 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon Z50
Sports photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
75
MP count decent (21 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
lack of image stabilization
43
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking focus
better than average battery (340 per charge)
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon Z50
Travel photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
77
weather proofing
supports bluetooth
offers focus by touch
MP count decent (21 megapixels)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
more heavy than competition (397g)
61
better than average battery (340 per charge)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
missing Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors in class (346 grams)
low MP (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon Z50 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Landscape photography camera
79
manual focus
swap lenses (Nikon Z mount)
screen is a decent size (3.2 inches)
MP count decent (21MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
lack of image stabilization
55
focusing manually
decently wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (340 CIPA)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon Z50 Vlogging features
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Vlogging features
71
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen
provides face detection focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
includes external microphone support
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition (397g)
36
decently wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with mic port
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
heavier than competitors in class (346 grams)
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Nikon Z50 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon Z50 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS
 Nikon Z50Olympus XZ-2 iHS
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Olympus
Model Nikon Z50 Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2019-10-10 2012-12-18
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed 6 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 21 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Maximum resolution 5568 x 3712 3968 x 2976
Maximum native ISO 51200 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 204800 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 209 35
Lens
Lens mounting type Nikon Z fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Available lenses 15 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 4.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3.2 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 11.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m (at ISO 100) 8.60 m (ISO 800)
Flash settings - 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
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 397 grams (0.88 lb) 346 grams (0.76 lb)
Dimensions 127 x 94 x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") 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 320 photos 340 photos
Battery form Built-in Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL25 Li-90B
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $857 $450