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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax RS1500 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
  • Launched December 2012
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Announced March 2011
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

Following is a detailed overview of the Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax RS1500, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by brands Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is relatively close but the XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") and RS1500 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizes.

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The XZ-2 iHS was introduced 22 months after the RS1500 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going through a in-depth comparison, below is a short summary of how the XZ-2 iHS grades vs the RS1500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Pentax RS1500

 XZ-2 iHS RS1500 
AnnouncedDecember 2012March 2011More modern by 22 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 RS1500 XZ-2 iHS 

Common features in the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Pentax RS1500

 XZ-2 iHS RS1500 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera regularly, you have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS has exterior 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) and the Pentax RS1500 has dimensions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Examine the Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax RS1500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is the front view scale comparison of the XZ-2 iHS versus the RS1500.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the XZ-2 iHS and RS1500 is 85 and 93 respectively.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to picture the gap in sensor sizes merely by looking through technical specs. The pic below should provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the XZ-2 iHS and RS1500.

As you have seen, both the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The XZ-2 iHS using its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Pentax RS1500 will render greater detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs far more aggressively. The younger XZ-2 iHS provides an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Portrait photography with Pentax RS1500
46
has manual focus
features face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
35
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Street photography factors
Pentax RS1500 Street photography factors
66
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
heavier than others in class (346 grams)
54
weather proofing
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Sports photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Sports photography camera
43
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking focus
good battery power (340 shots)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect autofocus
37
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
weather proofing
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Travel photography advice
Pentax RS1500 Travel photography advice
61
good battery power (340 per charge)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than others in class (346g)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
67
weather proofing
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Landscape photography with Pentax RS1500
55
has manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (340 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
doesn't have Time Lapse function
40
manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
weather proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Vlogging advice
Pentax RS1500 Vlogging advice
36
fairly wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have mic support
display is not selfie friendly
heavier than others in class (346 grams)
25
rather wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic port
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Pentax RS1500
 Olympus XZ-2 iHSPentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus XZ-2 iHS Pentax Optio RS1500
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-12-18 2011-03-16
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3968 x 2976 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximum aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 920k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting speed - 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 8.60 m (ISO 800) 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 346g (0.76 pounds) 157g (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 photographs 260 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model Li-90B D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch price $450 $150