Olympus 550WP vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS

The following is a detailed comparison of the Olympus 550WP and Olympus XZ-2 iHS, both Small Sensor Compact cameras and both are produced by Olympus. The resolution of the 550WP (10MP) and the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) is fairly comparable but the 550WP (1/2.3") and XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") provide different sensor sizing.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The 550WP was unveiled 5 years earlier than the XZ-2 iHS which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before going into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise view of how the 550WP scores against the XZ-2 iHS with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus Stylus 550WP and Olympus XZ-2 iHS. The full galleries are provided at Olympus 550WP Gallery and Olympus XZ-2 iHS Gallery.

In case you're intending to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus 550WP enjoys exterior dimensions of 94mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) whilst the Olympus XZ-2 iHS has dimensions of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") with a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs).

Check the Olympus 550WP and Olympus XZ-2 iHS in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at that time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the 550WP against the XZ-2 iHS.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 550WP and XZ-2 iHS is 94 and 85 respectively.

Typically, its tough to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by seeing technical specs. The image here will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the 550WP and XZ-2 iHS.

As you have seen, each of these cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The 550WP having a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field tougher and the Olympus XZ-2 iHS will show extra detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more aged 550WP will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.