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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax WG-2

Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
 
Pentax Optio WG-2 front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax WG-2 Key Specs

Olympus XZ-2 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 346g - 113 x 65 x 48mm
  • Released December 2012
Pentax WG-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 192g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Revealed February 2012
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax WG-2 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Olympus XZ-2 iHS versus Pentax WG-2, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Waterproof by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and WG-2 (16MP) and the XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") and WG-2 (1/2.3") boast different sensor size.

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The XZ-2 iHS was announced 11 months after the WG-2 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief summary of how the XZ-2 iHS matches up vs the WG-2 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 XZ-2 iHS WG-2 
RevealedDecember 2012February 2012More modern by 11 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kSharper display (+460k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

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

 WG-2 XZ-2 iHS 

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

 XZ-2 iHS WG-2 
Manual focus More precise focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax WG-2 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS enjoys external measurements of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") and a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs) and the Pentax WG-2 has dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") with a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus XZ-2 iHS versus Pentax WG-2 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select at the time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the XZ-2 iHS and the WG-2.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax WG-2 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the XZ-2 iHS and WG-2 is 85 and 91 respectively.

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

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax WG-2 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizes purely by reading specifications. The pic underneath may provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the XZ-2 iHS and WG-2.

Plainly, each of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The XZ-2 iHS with its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Pentax WG-2 will offer more detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos more aggressively. The more modern XZ-2 iHS should have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax WG-2 sensor size comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Portrait photography advice
Pentax WG-2 Portrait photography advice
46
manual focus
features face detection focus
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
40
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
features face detect autofocus
no manual control
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Street photography info
Pentax WG-2 Street photography info
66
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
heavier than competition in class (346 grams)
54
environment proof
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Sports photography camera
Pentax WG-2 as a Sports photography camera
43
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking autofocus
great battery power (340 shots)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
has no phase detect auto focus
38
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
environment proof
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Travel photography with Pentax WG-2
61
great battery power (340 CIPA)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than competition in class (346g)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
70
environment proof
resolution is good (16MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax WG-2 as a Landscape photography camera
55
manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (340 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
missing Time Lapse function
47
manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
resolution is good (16MP)
environment proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Vlogging with Pentax WG-2
36
rather wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic port
screen is not selfie friendly
heavier than competition in class (346 grams)
30
relatively wide (28mm)
features face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
does not have microphone jack
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Pentax WG-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Pentax WG-2
 Olympus XZ-2 iHSPentax Optio WG-2
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus XZ-2 iHS Pentax Optio WG-2
Category Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Released 2012-12-18 2012-02-07
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3968 x 2976 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 920 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed - 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 8.60 m (ISO 800) 5.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
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 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 346g (0.76 lbs) 192g (0.42 lbs)
Physical dimensions 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 49 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 216 not tested
Other
Battery life 340 pictures 260 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID Li-90B D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $450 $350