Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Samsung ST80

Let's take a closer look at the Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Samsung ST80, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Ultracompact by companies Olympus and Samsung. The image resolution of the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and the ST80 (14MP) is relatively comparable but the XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") and ST80 (1/2.3") use different sensor dimensions.

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The XZ-2 iHS was manufactured 2 years after the ST80 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus XZ-2 iHS being a Compact camera and the Samsung ST80 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go in to a in-depth comparison, below is a quick view of how the XZ-2 iHS scores against the ST80 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Samsung ST80. The entire galleries are available at Olympus XZ-2 iHS Gallery and Samsung ST80 Gallery.

If you're looking to travel with your camera often, you'll have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS provides outer dimensions of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") and a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs) while the Samsung ST80 has measurements of 92mm x 55mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 118 grams (0.26 lbs).

Compare the Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Samsung ST80 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using at that time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the XZ-2 iHS and the ST80.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the XZ-2 iHS and ST80 is 85 and 96 respectively.

Typically, it is very tough to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions only by checking out specifications. The picture here will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the XZ-2 iHS and ST80.

To sum up, the two cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The XZ-2 iHS because of its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Samsung ST80 will provide extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The younger XZ-2 iHS should have an edge with regard to sensor technology.