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Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS

Portability
80
Imaging
53
Features
84
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
 
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 469g - 124 x 85 x 45mm
  • Introduced February 2015
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-M5
  • Successor is Olympus E-M5 III
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
  • Introduced December 2012
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Overview

Below is a in depth assessment of the Olympus E-M5 II versus Olympus XZ-2 iHS, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are offered by Olympus. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the E-M5 II (16MP) and XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and the E-M5 II (Four Thirds) and XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") come with totally different sensor size.

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The E-M5 II was manufactured 2 years later than the XZ-2 iHS and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus XZ-2 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the E-M5 II scores against the XZ-2 iHS in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 II over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 E-M5 II XZ-2 iHS 
IntroducedFebruary 2015December 2012More recent by 26 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution1037k920kSharper display (+117k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Olympus E-M5 II

 XZ-2 iHS E-M5 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 II and Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 E-M5 II XZ-2 iHS 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera often, you'll have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M5 II offers outside measurements of 124mm x 85mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") having a weight of 469 grams (1.03 lbs) whilst the Olympus XZ-2 iHS has proportions of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") and a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-M5 II versus Olympus XZ-2 iHS in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have at that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the E-M5 II and the XZ-2 iHS.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 II and XZ-2 iHS is 80 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is difficult to see the gap in sensor measurements simply by checking out technical specs. The graphic here might offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 II and XZ-2 iHS.

As you have seen, both the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-M5 II featuring a larger sensor will make getting bokeh less difficult and the Olympus E-M5 II will provide greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will help you crop photos far more aggressively. The more modern E-M5 II will have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Portrait photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
71
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW files
46
has manual focus
has face detect focus
supports RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Street photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
82
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
has focus via touch
environment proofing
great high ISO (25,600)
66
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
small sensor (1/1.7")
more heavy than competitors (346g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Sports photography camera
Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Sports photography camera
65
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet shooting (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proofing
terrible battery life (310 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
43
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking focus
great battery pack (340 per charge)
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Travel photography advice
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Travel photography advice
74
environment proofing
has focus via touch
megapixel count good (16MP)
screen is selfie friendly
terrible battery life (310 CIPA)
61
great battery pack (340 CIPA)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors (346g)
low MP (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Landscape photography highlights
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Landscape photography highlights
74
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
terrible battery life (310 per charge)
55
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (340 per charge)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Vlogging advice
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Vlogging advice
82
screen is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external microphone support
36
decently wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with microphone socket
does not posses selfie friendly display
more heavy than competitors (346g)
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 II and Olympus XZ-2 iHS
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIOlympus XZ-2 iHS
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Class Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2015-02-06 2012-12-18
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII -
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 3968 x 2976
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 81 35
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
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 4.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 8.60 m (ISO 800)
Flash options Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 469 grams (1.03 lbs) 346 grams (0.76 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 49
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 11.3
DXO Low light rating 896 216
Other
Battery life 310 shots 340 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 Li-90B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $699 $450