Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A100

Here, we are looking at the Olympus XZ-2 iHS versus Sony A100, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and the A100 (10MP) is very close but the XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") and A100 (APS-C) have different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The XZ-2 iHS was unveiled 6 years after the A100 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus XZ-2 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A100 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple view of how the XZ-2 iHS grades against the A100 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Sony Alpha DSLR-A100. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus XZ-2 iHS Gallery and Sony A100 Gallery.

If you're going to travel with your camera, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS provides physical 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 Sony A100 has proportions of 133mm x 95mm x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8") and a weight of 638 grams (1.41 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus XZ-2 iHS versus Sony A100 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the XZ-2 iHS vs the A100.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the XZ-2 iHS and A100 is 85 and 64 respectively.

Quite often, it can be tough to picture the difference in sensor dimensions only by researching specs. The image below might give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the XZ-2 iHS and A100.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The XZ-2 iHS with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF tougher and the Olympus XZ-2 iHS will provide you with extra detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics way more aggressively. The more recent XZ-2 iHS provides an advantage with regard to sensor technology.