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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Samsung HZ15W

Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
 
Samsung HZ15W front
Portability
90
Imaging
34
Features
31
Overall
32

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Samsung HZ15W 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
Samsung HZ15W
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-240mm (F3.3-5.8) lens
  • 249g - 105 x 61 x 37mm
  • Introduced February 2009
  • Alternate Name is WB550
Photography Glossary

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Samsung HZ15W Overview

On this page, we will be evaluating the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Samsung HZ15W, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by rivals Olympus and Samsung. The resolution of the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and the HZ15W (12MP) is pretty well matched but the XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") and HZ15W (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The XZ-2 iHS was revealed 3 years later than the HZ15W and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going right into a in depth comparison, here is a short highlight of how the XZ-2 iHS scores versus the HZ15W when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Samsung HZ15W

 XZ-2 iHS HZ15W 
IntroducedDecember 2012February 2009Fresher by 47 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Samsung HZ15W over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 HZ15W XZ-2 iHS 

Common features in the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Samsung HZ15W

 XZ-2 iHS HZ15W 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Samsung HZ15W Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS offers 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 Samsung HZ15W has sizing of 105mm x 61mm x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") with a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

Look at the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Samsung HZ15W in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using at the time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the XZ-2 iHS and the HZ15W.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Samsung HZ15W size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the XZ-2 iHS and HZ15W is 85 and 90 respectively.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Samsung HZ15W top view buttons comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Samsung HZ15W Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is hard to envision the gap between sensor sizing purely by reading through specifications. The visual below will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the XZ-2 iHS and HZ15W.

Plainly, both of the cameras provide the same megapixels albeit not the same sensor sizing. The XZ-2 iHS contains the bigger sensor which will make getting bokeh easier. The younger XZ-2 iHS is going to have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Samsung HZ15W sensor size comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Samsung HZ15W Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Samsung HZ15W Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Portrait photography info
Samsung HZ15W Portrait photography info
46
has manual focus
supports face detect focus
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
31
has manual focus
provides face detect focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Street photography info
Samsung HZ15W Street photography info
66
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
heavier than others (346g)
52
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
more heavy than competitors in class (249 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Sports photography with Samsung HZ15W
43
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking focus
good battery (340 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
27
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Travel photography features
Samsung HZ15W Travel photography features
61
good battery (340 per charge)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
does not have Time Lapse recording
heavier than others (346 grams)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
54
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors in class (249 grams)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Landscape photography features
Samsung HZ15W Landscape photography features
55
has manual focus
really wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
good battery (340 shots)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
does not have Time Lapse recording
40
has manual focus
really wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Vlogging with Samsung HZ15W
36
really wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have mic socket
screen isn't selfie friendly
heavier than others (346g)
28
really wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focus
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone support
more heavy than competitors in class (249 grams)
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Samsung HZ15W Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Samsung HZ15W
 Olympus XZ-2 iHSSamsung HZ15W
General Information
Make Olympus Samsung
Model Olympus XZ-2 iHS Samsung HZ15W
Also Known as - WB550
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-12-18 2009-02-23
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Full resolution 3968 x 2976 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 24-240mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/3.3-5.8
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 920 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 16s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 8.60 m (ISO 800) 4.70 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red eye fix
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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 (60, 30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 346g (0.76 pounds) 249g (0.55 pounds)
Physical dimensions 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") 105 x 61 x 37mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5")
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 pictures -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model Li-90B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (10 sec, 2 sec, Double, Motion Timer)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $450 $330