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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Revealed July 2009
  • Successor is Olympus E-P2
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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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are sold by Olympus. The resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) is relatively comparable but the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-P1 was announced 4 years earlier than the XZ-2 iHS which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus XZ-2 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the E-P1 matches up versus the XZ-2 iHS in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 E-P1 XZ-2 iHS 

Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Olympus E-P1

 XZ-2 iHS E-P1 
LaunchedDecember 2012July 2009More modern by 41 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 E-P1 XZ-2 iHS 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera, you will want to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-P1 has outside dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") having a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) while the Olympus XZ-2 iHS has specifications of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") along with a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs).

See the Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the E-P1 vs the XZ-2 iHS.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P1 and XZ-2 iHS is 86 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to see the difference in sensor sizes merely by going through specs. The pic below might give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P1 and XZ-2 iHS.

All in all, both of these cameras have the same MP albeit not the same sensor sizes. The E-P1 uses the bigger sensor which should make obtaining shallow DOF less difficult. The more aged E-P1 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
supports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
46
has manual focus
has face detect focus
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Street photography details
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Street photography details
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no articulating screen
66
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
heavier than others (346g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P1
Sports photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (300 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
43
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking focus
good battery power (340 CIPA)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Travel photography camera
43
does not have Timelapse recording
not so great battery pack (300 per charge)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
61
good battery power (340 shots)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
does not have Time Lapse recording
heavier than others (346 grams)
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-P1
Landscape photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
60
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (300 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse recording
55
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (340 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Vlogging features
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Vlogging features
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone support
36
decently wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with mic port
doesn't have selfie friendly display
heavier than others (346g)
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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS
 Olympus PEN E-P1Olympus XZ-2 iHS
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-P1 Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2009-07-29 2012-12-18
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 3968 x 2976
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 35
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 8.60 m (ISO 800)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355 grams (0.78 pounds) 346 grams (0.76 pounds)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 49
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 11.3
DXO Low light rating 536 216
Other
Battery life 300 images 340 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 Li-90B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $182 $450