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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax K-50

Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
 
Pentax K-50 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
65
Overall
60

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax K-50 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
  • Announced December 2012
Pentax K-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched November 2013
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-30
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax K-50 Overview

Below is a extensive analysis of the Olympus XZ-2 iHS versus Pentax K-50, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a significant difference among the resolutions of the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and K-50 (16MP) and the XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") and K-50 (APS-C) provide different sensor size.

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The XZ-2 iHS was unveiled 11 months earlier than the K-50 and they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus XZ-2 iHS being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go into a complete comparison, here is a brief summation of how the XZ-2 iHS grades vs the K-50 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Pentax K-50

 XZ-2 iHS K-50 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-50 over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 K-50 XZ-2 iHS 
LaunchedNovember 2013December 2012More recent by 11 months
Display resolution921k920kCrisper display (+1k dot)

Common features in the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Pentax K-50

 XZ-2 iHS K-50 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax K-50 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera often, you will need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS offers outer dimensions 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 Pentax K-50 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Check out the Olympus XZ-2 iHS versus Pentax K-50 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you select at that time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the XZ-2 iHS versus the K-50.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax K-50 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the XZ-2 iHS and K-50 is 85 and 63 respectively.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax K-50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax K-50 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to imagine the difference in sensor measurements just by looking through specifications. The graphic below will give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the XZ-2 iHS and K-50.

To sum up, both of those cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The XZ-2 iHS using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K-50 will result in more detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images more aggressively. The older XZ-2 iHS will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax K-50 sensor size comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax K-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax K-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Portrait photography information
Pentax K-50 Portrait photography information
46
you can focus manually
comes with face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
74
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Street photography advice
Pentax K-50 Street photography advice
66
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
heavier than average in class (346 grams)
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
above average high ISO (51,600)
fixed screen
more heavy than competitors in class (650g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sports photography info
Pentax K-50 Sports photography info
43
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking autofocus
better than average battery (340 per charge)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect autofocus
67
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect AF
max fps very slow (6.0 frames/s)
low battery power (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Travel photography with Pentax K-50
61
better than average battery (340 CIPA)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than average in class (346g)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
56
environment sealing
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
low battery power (410 shots)
more heavy than competitors in class (650 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Landscape photography information
Pentax K-50 Landscape photography information
55
you can focus manually
fairly wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (340 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/1.7")
doesn't have Time Lapse function
74
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
above average high ISO (51,600)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
low battery power (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Vlogging advice
Pentax K-50 Vlogging advice
36
fairly wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external mic port
display is not selfie friendly
heavier than average in class (346g)
28
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone socket
more heavy than competitors in class (650g)
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax K-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Pentax K-50
 Olympus XZ-2 iHSPentax K-50
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus XZ-2 iHS Pentax K-50
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2012-12-18 2013-11-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - PRIME M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" APS-C
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Full resolution 3968 x 2976 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 12800 51600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 35 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Largest aperture f/1.8-2.5 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 4.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 920k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate - 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 8.60 m (ISO 800) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/180 seconds
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) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
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 Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 346 gr (0.76 lb) 650 gr (1.43 lb)
Physical dimensions 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 49 79
DXO Color Depth rating 20.4 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 13.0
DXO Low light rating 216 1120
Other
Battery life 340 photos 410 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID Li-90B D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $450 $610