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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony QX30

Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony QX30 Key Specs

Olympus XZ-2 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 346g - 113 x 65 x 48mm
  • Released December 2012
Sony QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Announced September 2014
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony QX30 Overview

On this page, we are contrasting the Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony QX30, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Lens-style by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a significant gap between the image resolutions of the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and QX30 (20MP) and the XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") and QX30 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The XZ-2 iHS was announced 20 months earlier than the QX30 making them a generation apart from one another. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus XZ-2 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera.

Before going into a detailed comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the XZ-2 iHS matches up against the QX30 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Sony QX30

 XZ-2 iHS QX30 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3""Larger display (+3")
Display resolution920k0kClearer display (+920k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 QX30 XZ-2 iHS 
AnnouncedSeptember 2014December 2012Fresher by 20 months

Common features in the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Sony QX30

 XZ-2 iHS QX30 
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony QX30 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera frequently, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS enjoys outside measurements of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") having a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs) while the Sony QX30 has sizing of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") accompanied by a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Check out the Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony QX30 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the XZ-2 iHS and the QX30.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony QX30 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the XZ-2 iHS and QX30 is 85 and 91 respectively.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony QX30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony QX30 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizing just by reviewing a spec sheet. The graphic below will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the XZ-2 iHS and QX30.

As you can see, the two cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The XZ-2 iHS having a larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Sony QX30 will deliver greater detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older XZ-2 iHS is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony QX30 sensor size comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony QX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony QX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Portrait photography highlights
Sony QX30 Portrait photography highlights
46
you can focus manually
has face detect focus
saves RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
38
resolution is good (20MP)
comes with face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Street photography with Sony QX30
66
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
heavier than competition in class (346g)
62
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with focus via touch
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sports photography info
Sony QX30 Sports photography info
43
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking focus
good battery (340 shots)
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
no phase detect auto focus
47
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (200 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Travel photography with Sony QX30
61
good battery (340 shots)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
does not have Time Lapse function
heavier than competition in class (346g)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
65
comes with focus via touch
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
decently wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery power (200 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony QX30 as a Landscape photography camera
55
you can focus manually
pretty wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
good battery (340 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low MP (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
does not have Time Lapse function
39
decently wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen ( inches)
no manual control
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
not so great battery power (200 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Vlogging camera
Sony QX30 as a Vlogging camera
36
pretty wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes mic socket
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
heavier than competition in class (346g)
35
decently wide (24mm)
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic socket
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony QX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Sony QX30
 Olympus XZ-2 iHSSony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
Category Small Sensor Compact Lens-style
Released 2012-12-18 2014-09-03
Physical type Compact Lens-style
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3968 x 2976 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/3.5-6.3
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Crop factor 4.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" -
Display resolution 920 thousand dots 0 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 8.60 m (ISO 800) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless None
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance 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 (60p, 30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 346 gr (0.76 pounds) 193 gr (0.43 pounds)
Physical dimensions 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 200 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model Li-90B NP-BN,
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $450 $348