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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony HX30V

Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony HX30V 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 HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Launched February 2012
  • Old Model is Sony HX20V
  • Successor is Sony HX50V
Photography Glossary

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony HX30V Overview

Following is a complete assessment of the Olympus XZ-2 iHS versus Sony HX30V, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a significant difference among the sensor resolutions of the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and HX30V (18MP) and the XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") and HX30V (1/2.3") provide different sensor sizing.

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The XZ-2 iHS was announced 10 months after the HX30V and they are of a similar generation. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before delving into a in depth comparison, here is a brief summation of how the XZ-2 iHS scores versus the HX30V in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Sony HX30V

 XZ-2 iHS HX30V 
LaunchedDecember 2012February 2012More modern by 10 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 HX30V XZ-2 iHS 
Display resolution922k920kClearer display (+2k dot)

Common features in the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Sony HX30V

 XZ-2 iHS HX30V 
Manually focus More exact focus
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry around your camera frequently, you have to factor 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") with a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs) whilst the Sony HX30V has proportions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Compare the Olympus XZ-2 iHS versus Sony HX30V in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you select at that time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the XZ-2 iHS against the HX30V.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the XZ-2 iHS and HX30V is 85 and 90 respectively.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's difficult to picture the difference in sensor sizes simply by researching a spec sheet. The pic below should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the XZ-2 iHS and HX30V.

Clearly, each of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The XZ-2 iHS using its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Sony HX30V will render greater detail with its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos way more aggressively. The more recent XZ-2 iHS should have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Portrait photography features
Sony HX30V Portrait photography features
46
has manual focus
features face detection focus
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
45
manual focus
MP count decent (18MP)
has face detect focusing
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Street photography features
Sony HX30V Street photography features
66
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
sensor is small (1/1.7")
heavier than competition in class (346 grams)
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (254 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sports photography features
Sony HX30V Sports photography features
43
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (340 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect auto focus
49
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
has tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Travel photography advice
Sony HX30V Travel photography advice
61
better than average battery pack (340 CIPA)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition in class (346 grams)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than others (254 grams)
MP count decent (18MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
long reach (500mm)
missing Timelapse mode
does not feature selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Landscape photography camera
55
has manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (340 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
50
manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18MP)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Vlogging advice
Sony HX30V Vlogging advice
36
pretty wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic support
does not posses selfie friendly screen
heavier than competition in class (346 grams)
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (254 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
missing microphone port
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Sony HX30V
 Olympus XZ-2 iHSSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-12-18 2012-02-28
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3968 x 2976 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 920 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 8.60 m (ISO 800) 7.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 346 grams (0.76 lbs) 254 grams (0.56 lbs)
Physical dimensions 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 49 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 216 not tested
Other
Battery life 340 photographs 320 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID Li-90B NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $450 $420