Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Panasonic ZS45

Following is a detailed review of the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Panasonic ZS45, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and ZS45 (16MP) and the XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") and ZS45 (1/2.3") possess different sensor measurements.

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The XZ-2 iHS was released 24 months prior to the ZS45 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a more detailed comparison, below is a short introduction of how the XZ-2 iHS scores against the ZS45 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus XZ-2 iHS & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45. The complete galleries are available at Olympus XZ-2 iHS Gallery & Panasonic ZS45 Gallery.

If you are aiming to carry around your camera often, you should take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS provides outer measurements 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 ZS45 has dimensions of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Panasonic ZS45 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are employing at that moment. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the XZ-2 iHS compared to the ZS45.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the XZ-2 iHS and ZS45 is 85 and 91 respectively.

Generally, it can be tough to picture the gap between sensor sizes merely by reviewing specs. The pic below may provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the XZ-2 iHS and ZS45.

All in all, both the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The XZ-2 iHS featuring a larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic ZS45 will deliver extra detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images a little more aggressively. The more aged XZ-2 iHS is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.