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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
 
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Key Specs

Olympus E-P3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 369g - 122 x 69 x 34mm
  • Released August 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-P2
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-P5
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-P3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Overview

Here, we are matching up the Olympus E-P3 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are created by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-P3 (12MP) and the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) is fairly well matched but the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-P3 was launched 16 months prior to the XZ-2 iHS making them a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus XZ-2 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a detailed comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the E-P3 scores against the XZ-2 iHS with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 E-P3 XZ-2 iHS 

Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Olympus E-P3

 XZ-2 iHS E-P3 
ReleasedDecember 2012August 2011More modern by 16 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k614kCrisper display (+306k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P3 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 E-P3 XZ-2 iHS 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry around your camera often, you should factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-P3 provides physical dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) whilst 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).

Take a look at the Olympus E-P3 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-P3 and the XZ-2 iHS.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-P3 and XZ-2 iHS is 86 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to see the contrast between sensor sizes only by checking specs. The picture here may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P3 and XZ-2 iHS.

All in all, the 2 cameras come with the identical resolution but not the same sensor sizes. The E-P3 provides the larger sensor which will make achieving shallow DOF less difficult. The more aged E-P3 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-P3
Portrait photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
46
has manual focus
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P3
Street photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
76
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
includes touch focus
fixed screen
66
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
more heavy than competition (346 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Sports photography highlights
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sports photography highlights
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
does not have phase detect auto focus
43
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (340 CIPA)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P3 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Travel photography camera
60
includes touch focus
built-in flash
no Timelapse mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
61
better than average battery life (340 per charge)
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
missing Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (346 grams)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography details
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Landscape photography details
65
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
no Timelapse mode
55
has manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (340 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P3 Vlogging advice
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Vlogging advice
35
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
no microphone jack
36
fairly wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone socket
does not posses selfie friendly display
more heavy than competition (346g)
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Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P3 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS
 Olympus PEN E-P3Olympus XZ-2 iHS
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-P3 Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-08-17 2012-12-18
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 surface area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 3968 x 2976
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
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 35 35
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 4.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 614 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (@ ISO 200) 8.60 m (ISO 800)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 369 gr (0.81 lb) 346 gr (0.76 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 51 49
DXO Color Depth rating 20.8 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 11.3
DXO Low light rating 536 216
Other
Battery life 330 photos 340 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 Li-90B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $0 $450