Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Samsung NX500

In this write-up, we will be matching up the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Samsung NX500, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Samsung. There is a big difference between the image resolutions of the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and NX500 (28MP) and the XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") and NX500 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The XZ-2 iHS was manufactured 3 years earlier than the NX500 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus XZ-2 iHS being a Compact camera and the Samsung NX500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going through a in-depth comparison, below is a concise view of how the XZ-2 iHS matches up against the NX500 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Samsung NX500. The entire galleries are available at Olympus XZ-2 iHS Gallery and Samsung NX500 Gallery.

If you are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS comes with physical measurements of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") with a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs) whilst the Samsung NX500 has sizing of 120mm x 64mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Examine the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Samsung NX500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are employing at the time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the XZ-2 iHS compared to the NX500.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the XZ-2 iHS and NX500 is 85 and 87 respectively.

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions just by reading through technical specs. The picture below should provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the XZ-2 iHS and NX500.

As you can tell, both cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The XZ-2 iHS featuring a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Samsung NX500 will give more detail due to its extra 16MP. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs far more aggressively. The more aged XZ-2 iHS is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.