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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic LX3

Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
34
Features
40
Overall
36

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic LX3 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
  • Introduced December 2012
Panasonic LX3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-60mm (F2.0-2.8) lens
  • 265g - 109 x 60 x 27mm
  • Announced November 2008
  • Newer Model is Panasonic LX5
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic LX3 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic LX3, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and the LX3 (10MP) is very close but the XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") and LX3 (1/1.63") feature different sensor size.

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The XZ-2 iHS was revealed 4 years after the LX3 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a concise summation of how the XZ-2 iHS grades vs the LX3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Panasonic LX3

 XZ-2 iHS LX3 
AnnouncedDecember 2012November 2008Newer by 51 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kSharper display (+460k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic LX3 over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 LX3 XZ-2 iHS 

Common features in the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Panasonic LX3

 XZ-2 iHS LX3 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic LX3 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera, you should factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS comes with exterior measurements of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") and a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs) while the Panasonic LX3 has dimensions of 109mm x 60mm x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1") along with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs).

Examine the Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic LX3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the XZ-2 iHS compared to the LX3.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic LX3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the XZ-2 iHS and LX3 is 85 and 91 respectively.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic LX3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic LX3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions simply by looking through a spec sheet. The picture underneath will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the XZ-2 iHS and LX3.

Clearly, both the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The XZ-2 iHS using its larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh easier and the Olympus XZ-2 iHS will result in greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos a little more aggressively. The newer XZ-2 iHS provides an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic LX3 sensor size comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic LX3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic LX3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Portrait photography details
Panasonic LX3 Portrait photography details
46
manual focus
supports face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
40
has manual focus
exports RAW formats
resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.63")
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Street Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Street photography info
Panasonic LX3 Street photography info
66
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
heavier than competition in class (346g)
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/1.63")
heavier than competition in class (265 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic LX3 as a Sports photography camera
43
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking autofocus
great battery (340 shots)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
has no phase detect autofocus
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.63")
lack of phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Travel photography with Panasonic LX3
61
great battery (340 per charge)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than competition in class (346g)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
60
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than competition in class (265g)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Landscape photography advice
Panasonic LX3 Landscape photography advice
55
manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
great battery (340 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low MP (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
missing Time Lapse function
52
has manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.63")
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Vlogging with Panasonic LX3
36
rather wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external mic socket
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
heavier than competition in class (346 grams)
30
fairly wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic support
heavier than competition in class (265 grams)
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic LX3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Panasonic LX3
 Olympus XZ-2 iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-LX3
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus XZ-2 iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-12-18 2008-11-04
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/1.63"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 8.07 x 5.56mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 44.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3968 x 2976 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 24-60mm (2.5x)
Maximal aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/2.0-2.8
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 4.8 4.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 920 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 8.60 m (ISO 800) 8.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (HD 24 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (10fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 346 gr (0.76 pounds) 265 gr (0.58 pounds)
Dimensions 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") 109 x 60 x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 49 39
DXO Color Depth rating 20.4 19.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 10.8
DXO Low light rating 216 94
Other
Battery life 340 photos -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID Li-90B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $450 $449