Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic G85

Here is a extended analysis of the Olympus XZ-2 iHS versus Panasonic G85, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap among the image resolutions of the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and G85 (16MP) and the XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") and G85 (Four Thirds) offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The XZ-2 iHS was unveiled 4 years before the G85 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus XZ-2 iHS being a Compact camera and the Panasonic G85 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight to a detailed comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the XZ-2 iHS matches up vs the G85 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus XZ-2 iHS & Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85. The full galleries are available at Olympus XZ-2 iHS Gallery & Panasonic G85 Gallery.

When you are intending to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS enjoys external measurements of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs) while the Panasonic G85 has specifications of 128mm x 89mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 2.9") having a weight of 505 grams (1.11 lbs).

Examine the Olympus XZ-2 iHS versus Panasonic G85 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the XZ-2 iHS compared to the G85.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the XZ-2 iHS and G85 is 85 and 69 respectively.

More often than not, it is very hard to envision the contrast in sensor sizing only by viewing a spec sheet. The graphic below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the XZ-2 iHS and G85.

As you can see, each of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The XZ-2 iHS using its smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF more difficult and the Panasonic G85 will render more detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older XZ-2 iHS will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.