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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ3

Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ3 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 SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
  • Released January 2013
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ3 Overview

Here is a complete overview of the Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ3, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and SZ3 (16MP) and the XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") and SZ3 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor size.

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The XZ-2 iHS was manufactured very close to the SZ3 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a in depth comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the XZ-2 iHS scores against the SZ3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Panasonic SZ3

 XZ-2 iHS SZ3 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 SZ3 XZ-2 iHS 

Common features in the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Panasonic SZ3

 XZ-2 iHS SZ3 
ReleasedDecember 2012January 2013Same age
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera often, you will have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS features exterior dimensions of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ3 has measurements of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have during that time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the XZ-2 iHS vs the SZ3.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ3 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the XZ-2 iHS and SZ3 is 85 and 96 respectively.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to picture the gap in sensor sizing only by going through specs. The graphic below will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the XZ-2 iHS and SZ3.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The XZ-2 iHS due to its bigger sensor is going to make getting bokeh easier and the Panasonic SZ3 will show extra detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs a little more aggressively.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ3 sensor size comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Portrait photography info
Panasonic SZ3 Portrait photography info
46
you can focus manually
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
30
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Street photography with Panasonic SZ3
66
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
heavier than competition (346 grams)
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (126 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Sports photography with Panasonic SZ3
43
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking autofocus
good battery life (340 shots)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
has no phase detect AF
41
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Travel photography advice
Panasonic SZ3 Travel photography advice
61
good battery life (340 CIPA)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
no Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (346g)
low resolution (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
71
lighter than average (126g)
MP count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Landscape photography advice
Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography advice
55
you can focus manually
fairly wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (340 CIPA)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
low resolution (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
no Time Lapse function
39
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Vlogging factors
Panasonic SZ3 Vlogging factors
36
fairly wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external mic socket
does not have a selfie friendly display
heavier than competition (346 grams)
31
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (126g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone jack
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Panasonic SZ3
 Olympus XZ-2 iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus XZ-2 iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-12-18 2013-01-07
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Peak resolution 3968 x 2976 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
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 23
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed - 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.60 m (ISO 800) 4.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB 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 file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 lb) 126 grams (0.28 lb)
Dimensions 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" 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 shots 250 shots
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 recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Price at release $450 $150