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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49

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

Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Announced April 2012
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M5 II
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
  • Announced December 2012
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Overview

In this write-up, we are comparing the Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are built by Olympus. There is a huge difference between the resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") come with different sensor sizing.

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The E-M5 was announced 7 months prior to the XZ-2 iHS so they are of a similar generation. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus XZ-2 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before going through a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-M5 matches up against the XZ-2 iHS for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 E-M5 XZ-2 iHS 

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

 XZ-2 iHS E-M5 
AnnouncedDecember 2012April 2012More modern by 7 months
Display resolution920k610kClearer display (+310k dot)

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

 E-M5 XZ-2 iHS 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

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

For those who are planning to carry around your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 has outside measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Olympus XZ-2 iHS has sizing of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") with a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Here is the front view size comparison of the E-M5 against the XZ-2 iHS.

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

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 and XZ-2 iHS is 81 and 85 respectively.

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

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

Oftentimes, it is difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizes merely by reading a spec sheet. The image below will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 and XZ-2 iHS.

As you can see, each of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-M5 using its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Olympus E-M5 will offer you more detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos a little more aggressively. The more aged E-M5 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Portrait photography highlights
71
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
46
focusing manually
has face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography info
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Street photography info
82
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
boasts touch to focus
weather proof
very good ISO range (25,600)
66
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
more heavy than competitors (346 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography features
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sports photography features
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
weather proof
has no phase detect AF
43
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking autofocus
great battery power (340 shots)
low MP (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M5
Travel photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
66
weather proof
boasts touch to focus
good resolution (16 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
does not have selfie friendly display
61
great battery power (340 shots)
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
no Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors (346g)
low MP (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Landscape photography highlights
73
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
doesn't have Time Lapse function
55
focusing manually
fairly wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
great battery power (340 shots)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Vlogging camera
34
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
doesn't have mic port
36
fairly wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external microphone jack
display isn't selfie friendly
more heavy than competitors (346g)
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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Olympus XZ-2 iHS
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-04-30 2012-12-18
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS 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 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 3968 x 2976
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 35 35
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 4.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 610 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 9.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 8.60 m (ISO 800)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG 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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 425 gr (0.94 pounds) 346 gr (0.76 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 71 49
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 11.3
DXO Low light score 826 216
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 340 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 Li-90B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail price $799 $450