Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Samsung MV800

The following is a extended overview of the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Samsung MV800, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by competitors Olympus and Samsung. There exists a sizeable gap among the resolutions of the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and MV800 (16MP) and the XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") and MV800 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor measurements.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

The XZ-2 iHS was released 16 months after the MV800 making them a generation away from one another. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a thorough comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the XZ-2 iHS scores versus the MV800 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Samsung MV800. The complete galleries are available at Olympus XZ-2 iHS Gallery and Samsung MV800 Gallery.

For those who are going to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS comes with outer 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 MV800 has proportions of 92mm x 56mm x 10mm (3.6" x 2.2" x 0.4") accompanied by a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Samsung MV800 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the XZ-2 iHS against the MV800.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the XZ-2 iHS and MV800 is 85 and 97 respectively.

More often than not, it is tough to see the gap in sensor dimensions simply by viewing specifications. The picture here should provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the XZ-2 iHS and MV800.

To sum up, both the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The XZ-2 iHS featuring a larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Samsung MV800 will result in extra detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos way more aggressively. The newer XZ-2 iHS will have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.