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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax K-x

Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
 
Pentax K-x front
Portability
69
Imaging
52
Features
47
Overall
50

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax K-x 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-x
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Boost to 12800)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 580g - 123 x 92 x 68mm
  • Announced December 2009
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax K-x Overview

Below, we are reviewing the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Pentax K-x, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and the K-x (12MP) is very close but the XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") and K-x (APS-C) feature different sensor dimensions.

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The XZ-2 iHS was revealed 3 years later than the K-x and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus XZ-2 iHS being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-x being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting in to a detailed comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the XZ-2 iHS matches up versus the K-x in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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

 XZ-2 iHS K-x 
AnnouncedDecember 2012December 2009More recent by 37 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

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

 K-x XZ-2 iHS 

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

 XZ-2 iHS K-x 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

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

If you're going to lug around your camera often, you will have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS features outside dimensions of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") along with a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs) while the Pentax K-x has measurements of 123mm x 92mm x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7") along with a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Pentax K-x in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the XZ-2 iHS and the K-x.

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

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the XZ-2 iHS and K-x is 85 and 69 respectively.

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

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

More often than not, it is tough to visualize the difference in sensor measurements only by viewing a spec sheet. The graphic below might provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the XZ-2 iHS and K-x.

Clearly, both of these cameras posses the exact same megapixel count but different sensor measurements. The XZ-2 iHS offers the smaller sensor which should make getting shallower DOF tougher. The more modern XZ-2 iHS should have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

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

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

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax K-x Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-x as a Portrait photography camera
46
manual focus
includes face detection focusing
saves RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
63
manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-x as a Street photography camera
66
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
sensor is small (1/1.7")
more heavy than average (346g)
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sports photography features
Pentax K-x Sports photography features
43
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking autofocus
great battery (340 shots)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect AF
61
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
great battery life (1,900 per charge)
supports phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Travel photography information
Pentax K-x Travel photography information
61
great battery (340 shots)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than average (346g)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
54
great battery life (1,900 shots)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-x Landscape photography factors
55
manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
great battery (340 CIPA)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
doesn't have Timelapse mode
61
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (1,900 shots)
tiny screen (2.7")
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Vlogging with Pentax K-x
36
rather wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external microphone socket
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
more heavy than average (346 grams)
27
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focusing
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic jack
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax K-x Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Pentax K-x
 Olympus XZ-2 iHSPentax K-x
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus XZ-2 iHS Pentax K-x
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2012-12-18 2009-12-23
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Prime
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 3968 x 2976 4288 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO - 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/1.8-2.5 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 4.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter speed - 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.60 m (ISO 800) 16.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180 secs
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 (24 fps), 640 x 416 (24 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 346 gr (0.76 lb) 580 gr (1.28 lb)
Dimensions 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") 123 x 92 x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 49 72
DXO Color Depth score 20.4 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score 11.3 12.5
DXO Low light score 216 811
Other
Battery life 340 photographs 1900 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model Li-90B 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $450 $600