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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FH8

Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FH8 Key Specs

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
  • Revealed December 2012
Panasonic FH8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-6.4) lens
  • 123g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Released January 2012
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FH8 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FH8, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and FH8 (16MP) and the XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") and FH8 (1/2.3") posses different sensor sizes.

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The XZ-2 iHS was released 12 months later than the FH8 so they are both of a similar age. The two cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick overview of how the XZ-2 iHS matches up versus the FH8 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Panasonic FH8

 XZ-2 iHS FH8 
ReleasedDecember 2012January 2012Fresher by 12 months
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH8 over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 FH8 XZ-2 iHS 

Common features in the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Panasonic FH8

 XZ-2 iHS FH8 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FH8 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS features outside dimensions of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") along with a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs) while the Panasonic FH8 has proportions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 123 grams (0.27 lbs).

Look at the Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FH8 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you choose at the time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the XZ-2 iHS versus the FH8.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FH8 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the XZ-2 iHS and FH8 is 85 and 96 respectively.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FH8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FH8 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizing just by looking through specs. The graphic below should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the XZ-2 iHS and FH8.

All in all, the 2 cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The XZ-2 iHS due to its larger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic FH8 will result in extra detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images more aggressively. The fresher XZ-2 iHS provides an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FH8 sensor size comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FH8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FH8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Portrait photography details
Panasonic FH8 Portrait photography details
46
has manual focus
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
34
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has face detect focus
no manual focus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Street photography highlights
Panasonic FH8 Street photography highlights
66
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
heavier than competition (346g)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (123g)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Sports photography with Panasonic FH8
43
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking focus
great battery power (340 per charge)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect autofocus
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
has tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Travel photography highlights
Panasonic FH8 Travel photography highlights
61
great battery power (340 shots)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition (346g)
megapixel count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
69
lighter than competition in class (123g)
MP count good (16MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
no Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic FH8 Landscape photography highlights
55
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
great battery power (340 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
no Time Lapse recording
43
relatively wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
no manual exposure
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Vlogging advice
Panasonic FH8 Vlogging advice
36
quite wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes mic socket
display isn't selfie friendly
heavier than competition (346g)
33
relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
lighter than competition in class (123g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic port
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FH8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Panasonic FH8
 Olympus XZ-2 iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-FH8
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus XZ-2 iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-12-18 2012-01-09
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3968 x 2976 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/2.5-6.4
Macro focus distance 1cm 4cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 920k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed - 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 8.60 m (ISO 800) 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 346g (0.76 pounds) 123g (0.27 pounds)
Physical dimensions 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 49 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 216 not tested
Other
Battery life 340 photographs 260 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model Li-90B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $450 $149