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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony QX1

Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
 
Sony Alpha QX1 front
Portability
90
Imaging
63
Features
48
Overall
57

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony QX1 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
  • Announced December 2012
Sony QX1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • " Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 216g - 74 x 70 x 53mm
  • Launched September 2014
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony QX1 Overview

Here is a comprehensive comparison of the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Sony QX1, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Lens-style by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and QX1 (20MP) and the XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") and QX1 (APS-C) posses different sensor size.

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The XZ-2 iHS was brought out 20 months before the QX1 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus XZ-2 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony QX1 being a Lens-style camera.

Before going right into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the XZ-2 iHS scores against the QX1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Sony QX1

 XZ-2 iHS QX1 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3""Bigger screen (+3")
Screen resolution920k0kCrisper screen (+920k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX1 over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 QX1 XZ-2 iHS 
LaunchedSeptember 2014December 2012Fresher by 20 months

Common features in the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Sony QX1

 XZ-2 iHS QX1 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony QX1 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS provides outer measurements of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") and a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs) whilst the Sony QX1 has dimensions of 74mm x 70mm x 53mm (2.9" x 2.8" x 2.1") and a weight of 216 grams (0.48 lbs).

Examine the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Sony QX1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the XZ-2 iHS against the QX1.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony QX1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the XZ-2 iHS and QX1 is 85 and 90 respectively.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony QX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony QX1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing merely by looking through specs. The graphic underneath may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the XZ-2 iHS and QX1.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The XZ-2 iHS because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF tougher and the Sony QX1 will render greater detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots more aggressively. The older XZ-2 iHS will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony QX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony QX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony QX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony QX1 as a Portrait photography camera
46
focusing manually
includes face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
66
has manual focus
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Street photography highlights
Sony QX1 Street photography highlights
66
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
heavier than average in class (346g)
69
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
comes with focus by touch
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition (216g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sports photography highlights
Sony QX1 Sports photography highlights
43
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking focus
good battery life (340 shots)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect auto focus
56
decent megapixels (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
better than average battery life (440 shots)
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Travel photography information
Sony QX1 Travel photography information
61
good battery life (340 shots)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than average in class (346g)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
71
better than average battery life (440 CIPA)
comes with focus by touch
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than competition (216g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Landscape photography information
Sony QX1 Landscape photography information
55
focusing manually
rather wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (340 shots)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
missing Time Lapse function
64
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (440 per charge)
small screen ( inches)
lack of manual exposure
no image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Vlogging features
Sony QX1 Vlogging features
36
rather wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have mic port
does not contain selfie friendly screen
heavier than average in class (346g)
32
built-in touchscreen
offers face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone port
more heavy than competition (216g)
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony QX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Sony QX1
 Olympus XZ-2 iHSSony Alpha QX1
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sony Alpha QX1
Class Small Sensor Compact Lens-style
Announced 2012-12-18 2014-09-03
Body design Compact Lens-style
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" APS-C
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 3:2
Peak resolution 3968 x 2976 5456 x 3632
Highest native ISO 12800 16000
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
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 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/1.8-2.5 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Crop factor 4.8 1.6
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" -
Resolution of screen 920k dot 0k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed - 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 8.60 m (ISO 800) 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless Off, auto, fill, slow sync, rear sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 346 grams (0.76 lbs) 216 grams (0.48 lbs)
Physical dimensions 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") 74 x 70 x 53mm (2.9" x 2.8" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photographs 440 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model Li-90B NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $450 $500