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Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Key Specs

Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Introduced November 2011
  • Successor is Olympus E-PM2
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-PM1 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Overview

On this page, we are contrasting the Olympus E-PM1 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are manufactured by Olympus. The resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) is fairly well matched but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") offer different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PM1 was introduced 13 months before the XZ-2 iHS making them a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus XZ-2 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple summation of how the E-PM1 grades versus the XZ-2 iHS for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 E-PM1 XZ-2 iHS 

Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Olympus E-PM1

 XZ-2 iHS E-PM1 
ReleasedDecember 2012November 2011Newer by 13 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kClearer display (+460k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 E-PM1 XZ-2 iHS 
Manual focus More exact focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-PM1 provides exterior dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Olympus XZ-2 iHS has specifications of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") having a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PM1 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are employing at the time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PM1 versus the XZ-2 iHS.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM1 and XZ-2 iHS is 89 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to visualize the difference between sensor dimensions merely by reading through specs. The pic here should give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM1 and XZ-2 iHS.

All in all, both the cameras provide the same resolution but different sensor dimensions. The E-PM1 provides the larger sensor which is going to make obtaining bokeh less difficult. The more aged E-PM1 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Portrait photography highlights
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
46
has manual focus
supports face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography factors
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Street photography factors
75
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
fixed screen
66
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
sensor is small (1/1.7")
heavier than competitors (346 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography information
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sports photography information
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
has no phase detect autofocus
43
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking focus
great battery life (340 CIPA)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography information
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Travel photography information
45
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low resolution (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
61
great battery life (340 CIPA)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than competitors (346g)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Landscape photography highlights
65
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
55
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (340 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Vlogging camera
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have mic support
36
decently wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has mic socket
does not offer selfie friendly display
heavier than competitors (346 grams)
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Olympus XZ-2 iHS
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM1 Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-11-23 2012-12-18
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI -
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 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 3968 x 2976
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 35 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 distance - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 8.60 m (ISO 800)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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 file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic 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 265g (0.58 lbs) 346g (0.76 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 52 49
DXO Color Depth rating 21.0 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 11.3
DXO Low light rating 499 216
Other
Battery life 330 photos 340 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 Li-90B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Price at release $499 $450