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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ7

Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 front
Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
41
Overall
39

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ7 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
  • Launched December 2012
Panasonic SZ7
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 133g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Introduced January 2012
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ7 Overview

Here is a detailed comparison of the Olympus XZ-2 iHS versus Panasonic SZ7, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and the SZ7 (14MP) is fairly comparable but the XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") and SZ7 (1/2.3") posses different sensor sizes.

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The XZ-2 iHS was brought out 12 months later than the SZ7 and they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before going right into a complete comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the XZ-2 iHS scores against the SZ7 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Panasonic SZ7

 XZ-2 iHS SZ7 
IntroducedDecember 2012January 2012Fresher by 12 months
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kSharper display (+460k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ7 over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 SZ7 XZ-2 iHS 

Common features in the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Panasonic SZ7

 XZ-2 iHS SZ7 
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ7 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS has got outside dimensions of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") with a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ7 has specifications of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs).

Look at the Olympus XZ-2 iHS versus Panasonic SZ7 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you choose during that time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the XZ-2 iHS vs the SZ7.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ7 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the XZ-2 iHS and SZ7 is 85 and 95 respectively.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ7 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to visualize the difference in sensor sizing just by seeing technical specs. The photograph here will provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the XZ-2 iHS and SZ7.

As you have seen, both cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The XZ-2 iHS due to its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Panasonic SZ7 will produce more detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more recent XZ-2 iHS provides a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ7 sensor size comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Portrait photography factors
Panasonic SZ7 Portrait photography factors
46
manual focus
has face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
34
good MP (14 megapixels)
provides face detect focus
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Street photography with Panasonic SZ7
66
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
heavier than average in class (346g)
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (133g)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sports photography highlights
Panasonic SZ7 Sports photography highlights
43
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking autofocus
great battery pack (340 per charge)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
has no phase detect AF
44
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
provides tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic SZ7 as a Travel photography camera
61
great battery pack (340 per charge)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
lack of Time Lapse recording
heavier than average in class (346g)
MP count low (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
70
lighter than competitors (133g)
good MP (14MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Landscape photography information
Panasonic SZ7 Landscape photography information
55
manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (340 CIPA)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
lack of Time Lapse recording
42
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Vlogging advice
Panasonic SZ7 Vlogging advice
36
reasonably wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external mic socket
does not have a selfie friendly screen
heavier than average in class (346g)
35
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors (133g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone socket
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic SZ7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Panasonic SZ7
 Olympus XZ-2 iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus XZ-2 iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-12-18 2012-01-09
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3968 x 2976 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus range 1cm 4cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 920 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate - 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 8.60 m (ISO 800) 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 346g (0.76 pounds) 133g (0.29 pounds)
Physical dimensions 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 220 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model Li-90B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $450 $199