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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-3
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
  • Released December 2012
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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Overview

Here is a detailed overview of the Olympus E-5 versus Olympus XZ-2 iHS, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are offered by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-5 (12MP) and the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) is very comparable but the E-5 (Four Thirds) and XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") have different sensor sizing.

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The E-5 was manufactured 22 months before the XZ-2 iHS making them a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus XZ-2 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a complete comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the E-5 scores vs the XZ-2 iHS in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 E-5 XZ-2 iHS 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Olympus E-5

 XZ-2 iHS E-5 
ReleasedDecember 2012February 2011Fresher by 22 months
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 E-5 XZ-2 iHS 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Display resolution920k920kExact same display resolution

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-5 offers physical measurements of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) whilst 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).

See the Olympus E-5 versus Olympus XZ-2 iHS in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Below is a front view size comparison of the E-5 compared to the XZ-2 iHS.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-5 and XZ-2 iHS is 58 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to picture the contrast in sensor sizing only by seeing specifications. The visual below may provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-5 and XZ-2 iHS.

To sum up, each of these cameras have the same resolution but different sensor sizing. The E-5 includes the larger sensor which will make achieving shallower depth of field simpler. The older E-5 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 Portrait photography details
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Portrait photography details
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
46
you can focus manually
provides face detection focus
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 Street photography highlights
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Street photography highlights
71
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
66
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
heavier than average in class (346 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 Sports photography advice
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sports photography advice
59
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
weather proofing
supports phase detect AF
max frames per second very slow (5.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
43
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking autofocus
great battery pack (340 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 Travel photography info
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Travel photography info
56
weather proofing
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
lack of Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
61
great battery pack (340 per charge)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than average in class (346g)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Landscape photography camera
65
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
2 card slots
megapixel count low (12MP)
lack of Time Lapse recording
55
you can focus manually
pretty wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (340 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Vlogging camera
64
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
comes with external mic support
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
36
pretty wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external mic port
screen is not selfie friendly
heavier than average in class (346g)
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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS
 Olympus E-5Olympus XZ-2 iHS
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-5 Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-02-03 2012-12-18
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V+ -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 3968 x 2976
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 35
Cross type focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 4.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 920k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology HyperCrystal transmissive LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames per second -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 8.60 m (ISO 800)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 800 grams (1.76 pounds) 346 grams (0.76 pounds)
Physical dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 49
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 11.3
DXO Low light rating 519 216
Other
Battery life 870 photographs 340 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLM-5 Li-90B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Two 1
Launch pricing $1,700 $450