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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A6500

Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
Portability
81
Imaging
67
Features
85
Overall
74

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A6500 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
  • Introduced December 2012
Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Expand to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Released October 2016
  • Older Model is Sony A6300
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A6500 Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Olympus XZ-2 iHS versus Sony A6500, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a big difference among the resolutions of the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and A6500 (24MP) and the XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") and A6500 (APS-C) have different sensor sizing.

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The XZ-2 iHS was introduced 4 years before the A6500 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus XZ-2 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the XZ-2 iHS scores against the A6500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Sony A6500

 XZ-2 iHS A6500 

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 A6500 XZ-2 iHS 
ReleasedOctober 2016December 2012Fresher by 46 months
Display resolution922k920kSharper display (+2k dot)

Common features in the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Sony A6500

 XZ-2 iHS A6500 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS has got exterior 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 A6500 has measurements of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") along with a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

Check out the Olympus XZ-2 iHS versus Sony A6500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are employing during that time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the XZ-2 iHS compared to the A6500.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A6500 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the XZ-2 iHS and A6500 is 85 and 81 respectively.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A6500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing only by seeing technical specs. The photograph underneath might offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the XZ-2 iHS and A6500.

As you have seen, the two cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The XZ-2 iHS using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Sony A6500 will provide more detail using its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics way more aggressively. The older XZ-2 iHS will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A6500 sensor size comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A6500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Portrait photography with Sony A6500
46
you can focus manually
comes with face detection focus
exports RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
80
has manual focus
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Street photography details
Sony A6500 Street photography details
66
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
heavier than competition (346 grams)
85
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
includes focus via touch
environment proof
above average high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sports photography highlights
Sony A6500 Sports photography highlights
43
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking autofocus
good battery power (340 CIPA)
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
has no phase detect auto focus
77
silent shutter (1/32,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
environment proof
has phase detect AF
low battery pack (350 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Travel photography advice
Sony A6500 Travel photography advice
61
good battery power (340 shots)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
lack of Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (346g)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
74
environment proof
connects via bluetooth
includes focus via touch
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
low battery pack (350 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Landscape photography highlights
Sony A6500 Landscape photography highlights
55
you can focus manually
quite wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
good battery power (340 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
lack of Time Lapse function
79
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
environment proof
low battery pack (350 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Vlogging information
Sony A6500 Vlogging information
36
quite wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic port
display isn't selfie friendly
heavier than competition (346g)
39
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
has external microphone socket
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A6500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Sony A6500
 Olympus XZ-2 iHSSony Alpha a6500
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sony Alpha a6500
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-12-18 2016-10-06
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" APS-C
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3968 x 2976 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 12800 25600
Max enhanced ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 425
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) -
Highest aperture f/1.8-2.5 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 4.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 920k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Max silent shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shutter rate - 11.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.60 m (ISO 800) 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 346 grams (0.76 lb) 453 grams (1.00 lb)
Physical dimensions 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 49 85
DXO Color Depth score 20.4 24.5
DXO Dynamic range score 11.3 13.7
DXO Low light score 216 1405
Other
Battery life 340 pictures 350 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model Li-90B NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $450 $1,298