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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS15

Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS15 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
  • Released December 2012
Panasonic FS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 29-145mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2009
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS15 Overview

Here is a in depth review of the Olympus XZ-2 iHS versus Panasonic FS15, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Ultracompact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and the FS15 (12MP) is pretty well matched but the XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") and FS15 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor size.

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The XZ-2 iHS was manufactured 3 years later than the FS15 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus XZ-2 iHS being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FS15 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a short summary of how the XZ-2 iHS grades versus the FS15 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Panasonic FS15

 XZ-2 iHS FS15 
AnnouncedDecember 2012January 2009Fresher by 48 months
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS15 over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 FS15 XZ-2 iHS 

Common features in the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Panasonic FS15

 XZ-2 iHS FS15 
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS15 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry your camera, you'll have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS offers outer measurements of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") having a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs) and the Panasonic FS15 has measurements of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") and a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Compare the Olympus XZ-2 iHS versus Panasonic FS15 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have at the time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the XZ-2 iHS vs the FS15.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS15 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the XZ-2 iHS and FS15 is 85 and 95 respectively.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS15 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to envision the contrast between sensor sizing purely by checking technical specs. The photograph here may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the XZ-2 iHS and FS15.

As you can tell, both of the cameras have got the exact same megapixel count albeit not the same sensor sizing. The XZ-2 iHS has the bigger sensor which is going to make getting shallower DOF simpler. The younger XZ-2 iHS will have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Portrait photography information
Panasonic FS15 Portrait photography information
46
you can focus manually
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
20
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Street photography highlights
Panasonic FS15 Street photography highlights
66
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
heavier than others in class (346 grams)
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sports photography features
Panasonic FS15 Sports photography features
43
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (340 per charge)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
has no phase detect AF
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FS15 as a Travel photography camera
61
better than average battery pack (340 CIPA)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than others in class (346g)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
51
built-in flash
no Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (29mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Landscape photography features
Panasonic FS15 Landscape photography features
55
you can focus manually
quite wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (340 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
missing Time Lapse function
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (29mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7")
manual exposure not available
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Vlogging details
Panasonic FS15 Vlogging details
36
quite wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external mic jack
does not feature selfie friendly display
heavier than others in class (346g)
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (29mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 pixels)
no external mic support
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic FS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Panasonic FS15
 Olympus XZ-2 iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-FS15
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus XZ-2 iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15
Type Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Released 2012-12-18 2009-01-16
Physical type 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 surface area 41.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Max resolution 3968 x 2976 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 1600
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 29-145mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate - 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.60 m (ISO 800) -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off
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 data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 346g (0.76 lb) 136g (0.30 lb)
Dimensions 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" 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 photographs -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model Li-90B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $450 $180