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Olympus VR-340 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus VR-340 front
 
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49

Olympus VR-340 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Key Specs

Olympus VR-340
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-240mm (F3.0-5.7) lens
  • 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Announced January 2012
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
  • Introduced December 2012
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Olympus VR-340 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Overview

The following is a extensive overview of the Olympus VR-340 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS, both Small Sensor Compact cameras and both of them are manufactured by Olympus. There is a huge difference among the sensor resolutions of the VR-340 (16MP) and XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and the VR-340 (1/2.3") and XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") have different sensor sizing.

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The VR-340 was introduced 11 months before the XZ-2 iHS so they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief view of how the VR-340 grades against the XZ-2 iHS in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus VR-340 over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 VR-340 XZ-2 iHS 

Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Olympus VR-340

 XZ-2 iHS VR-340 
IntroducedDecember 2012January 2012Newer by 11 months
Manually focus More exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kClearer screen (+460k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus VR-340 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 VR-340 XZ-2 iHS 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus VR-340 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus VR-340 enjoys external measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Olympus XZ-2 iHS has sizing of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus VR-340 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the VR-340 against the XZ-2 iHS.

Olympus VR-340 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the VR-340 and XZ-2 iHS is 96 and 85 respectively.

Olympus VR-340 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus VR-340 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions purely by checking out a spec sheet. The pic here may give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the VR-340 and XZ-2 iHS.

As you can see, each of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The VR-340 using its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more challenging and the Olympus VR-340 will provide greater detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures more aggressively. The more aged VR-340 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus VR-340 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus VR-340 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VR-340 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus VR-340
Portrait photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
34
good resolution (16MP)
offers face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
46
you can focus manually
includes face detection focus
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus VR-340
Street photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
63
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (125g)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
66
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
more heavy than competitors in class (346 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VR-340 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Sports photography camera
44
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
43
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking autofocus
good battery pack (340 per charge)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Travel photography highlights
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Travel photography highlights
69
lighter than average in class (125g)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
61
good battery pack (340 per charge)
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors in class (346g)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VR-340 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Landscape photography camera
43
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
55
you can focus manually
fairly wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (340 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Vlogging information
Olympus XZ-2 iHS Vlogging information
33
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection autofocus
lighter than average in class (125 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic socket
36
fairly wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external microphone socket
does not have a selfie friendly display
more heavy than competitors in class (346 grams)
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Olympus VR-340 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-340 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS
 Olympus VR-340Olympus XZ-2 iHS
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus VR-340 Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-01-10 2012-12-18
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 3968 x 2976
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 35
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-240mm (10.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-5.7 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.80 m 8.60 m (ISO 800)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 125g (0.28 pounds) 346g (0.76 pounds)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 49
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 216
Other
Battery life - 340 images
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B Li-90B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $130 $450