Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax K200D

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Pentax K200D, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and the K200D (10MP) is relatively comparable but the XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") and K200D (APS-C) boast totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The XZ-2 iHS was unveiled 4 years after the K200D which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus XZ-2 iHS being a Compact camera and the Pentax K200D being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the XZ-2 iHS scores against the K200D with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus XZ-2 iHS & Pentax K200D. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus XZ-2 iHS Gallery & Pentax K200D Gallery.

In case you're going to carry around your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS enjoys exterior measurements of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") along with a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs) whilst the Pentax K200D has specifications of 134mm x 95mm x 74mm (5.3" x 3.7" x 2.9") and a weight of 690 grams (1.52 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Pentax K200D in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the XZ-2 iHS compared to the K200D.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the XZ-2 iHS and K200D is 85 and 61 respectively.

Sometimes, it's difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizes just by seeing specifications. The image here may provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the XZ-2 iHS and K200D.

To sum up, each of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The XZ-2 iHS using its smaller sensor will make getting shallower depth of field tougher and the Olympus XZ-2 iHS will produce extra detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots more aggressively. The fresher XZ-2 iHS will have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.