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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS12

Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
14
Overall
26

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS12 Key Specs

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
Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-124mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 55 x 22mm
  • Released April 2009
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS12 Overview

In this write-up, we are matching up the Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS12, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Ultracompact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and the FS12 (12MP) is fairly well matched but the XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") and FS12 (1/2.3") possess different sensor size.

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The XZ-2 iHS was revealed 3 years after the FS12 which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus XZ-2 iHS being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going through a step-by-step comparison, below is a short view of how the XZ-2 iHS grades vs the FS12 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Panasonic FS12

 XZ-2 iHS FS12 
ReleasedDecember 2012April 2009Newer by 45 months
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 FS12 XZ-2 iHS 

Common features in the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Panasonic FS12

 XZ-2 iHS FS12 
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS12 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS has got exterior dimensions of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") and a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs) and the Panasonic FS12 has dimensions of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs).

Compare the Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS12 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the XZ-2 iHS against the FS12.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS12 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the XZ-2 iHS and FS12 is 85 and 95 respectively.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS12 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reading through specs. The picture underneath will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the XZ-2 iHS and FS12.

All in all, both cameras enjoy the same exact MP but different sensor dimensions. The XZ-2 iHS features the larger sensor which will make achieving shallow DOF easier. The more modern XZ-2 iHS should have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS12 sensor size comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Portrait photography information
Panasonic FS12 Portrait photography information
46
manual focus
features face detect focusing
saves RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
20
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Street photography information
Panasonic FS12 Street photography information
66
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
more heavy than competitors (346 grams)
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Sports photography camera
43
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking focus
great battery (340 per charge)
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
no phase detect AF
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Travel photography details
Panasonic FS12 Travel photography details
61
great battery (340 shots)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors (346 grams)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
51
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (31mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Landscape photography with Panasonic FS12
55
manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
great battery (340 per charge)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
doesn't have Timelapse function
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (31mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Vlogging info
Panasonic FS12 Vlogging info
36
decently wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have microphone jack
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
more heavy than competitors (346 grams)
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (31mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of mic port
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Panasonic FS12
 Olympus XZ-2 iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus XZ-2 iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
Type Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Introduced 2012-12-18 2009-04-17
Body design Compact Ultracompact
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 area 41.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3968 x 2976 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 1600
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 31-124mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 920k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed - 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.60 m (ISO 800) 6.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
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 346 grams (0.76 lbs) 129 grams (0.28 lbs)
Dimensions 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 images -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model Li-90B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $450 $228