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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FH2

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FH2 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-16 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Introduced January 2013
Panasonic FH2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2011
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FS16
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FH2 Overview

In this write-up, we are looking at the Olympus SZ-16 iHS versus Panasonic FH2, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and the FH2 (14MP) is very similar and they feature the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ-16 iHS was unveiled 2 years after the FH2 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a full comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the SZ-16 iHS scores against the FH2 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Panasonic FH2

 SZ-16 iHS FH2 
RevealedJanuary 2013January 2011More modern by 25 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH2 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 FH2 SZ-16 iHS 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic FH2

 SZ-16 iHS FH2 
Manual focus No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FH2 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS offers outer dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Panasonic FH2 has sizing of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") and a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-16 iHS versus Panasonic FH2 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the SZ-16 iHS and the FH2.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FH2 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-16 iHS and FH2 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FH2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FH2 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its difficult to envision the difference between sensor sizes just by going over a spec sheet. The pic underneath will provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-16 iHS and FH2.

Clearly, both of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You should expect to see the Olympus SZ-16 iHS to offer greater detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images a little more aggressively. The more modern SZ-16 iHS is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FH2 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FH2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FH2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Portrait photography info
Panasonic FH2 Portrait photography info
35
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has face detect focus
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
33
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
includes face detection autofocus
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Street photography info
Panasonic FH2 Street photography info
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
67
image stabilization (Optical)
offers focus by touch
lighter than others in class (121 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sports photography advice
Panasonic FH2 Sports photography advice
42
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
slow fps (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (220 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
43
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
better than average battery (270 per charge)
low frames per second (4.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Travel photography features
Panasonic FH2 Travel photography features
65
lighter than competition (226 grams)
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
missing Timelapse function
bad battery power (220 per charge)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
72
better than average battery (270 per charge)
lighter than others in class (121g)
offers focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Landscape photography with Panasonic FH2
41
quite wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
bad battery power (220 per charge)
missing Timelapse function
41
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
better than average battery (270 shots)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Vlogging advice
Panasonic FH2 Vlogging advice
31
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focus
lighter than competition (226g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone port
32
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
lighter than others in class (121g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone support
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FH2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic FH2
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-FH2
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-16 iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-FS16
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-01-08 2011-01-05
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per sec 4.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 3.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 gr (0.50 pounds) 121 gr (0.27 pounds)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 shots 270 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $230 $149