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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony TX9

Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX9 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony TX9 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
  • Revealed December 2012
Sony TX9
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F3.5-4.6) lens
  • 149g - 98 x 60 x 18mm
  • Launched July 2010
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony TX9 Overview

In this write-up, we will be analyzing the Olympus XZ-2 iHS versus Sony TX9, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Ultracompact by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and the TX9 (12MP) is relatively similar but the XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") and TX9 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The XZ-2 iHS was launched 2 years after the TX9 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus XZ-2 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony TX9 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving through a complete comparison, below is a concise view of how the XZ-2 iHS scores vs the TX9 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Sony TX9

 XZ-2 iHS TX9 
LaunchedDecember 2012July 2010More modern by 30 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Sony TX9 over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 TX9 XZ-2 iHS 
Screen sizing3.5"3"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution922k920kCrisper screen (+2k dot)

Common features in the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Sony TX9

 XZ-2 iHS TX9 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony TX9 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS has got outer dimensions of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") and a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs) while the Sony TX9 has sizing of 98mm x 60mm x 18mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 0.7") with a weight of 149 grams (0.33 lbs).

Examine the Olympus XZ-2 iHS versus Sony TX9 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the XZ-2 iHS versus the TX9.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony TX9 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the XZ-2 iHS and TX9 is 85 and 95 respectively.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony TX9 top view buttons comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony TX9 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is difficult to see the gap between sensor sizes simply by going over specs. The image below should give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the XZ-2 iHS and TX9.

All in all, the 2 cameras offer the same exact megapixel count albeit not the same sensor sizes. The XZ-2 iHS features the bigger sensor which will make achieving shallow depth of field simpler. The newer XZ-2 iHS will have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony TX9 sensor size comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony TX9 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony TX9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony TX9 as a Portrait photography camera
46
has manual focus
includes face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
27
manual focus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Street photography highlights
Sony TX9 Street photography highlights
66
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
more heavy than average (346g)
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers touch to focus
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
more heavy than competition (149g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sports photography advice
Sony TX9 Sports photography advice
43
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking autofocus
great battery pack (340 per charge)
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect autofocus
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS as a Travel photography camera
Sony TX9 as a Travel photography camera
61
great battery pack (340 per charge)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than average (346 grams)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
60
offers touch to focus
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than competition (149 grams)
MP count low (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Landscape photography factors
Sony TX9 Landscape photography factors
55
has manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (340 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
does not have Timelapse recording
41
manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
lovely big screen (3.5 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Vlogging details
Sony TX9 Vlogging details
36
fairly wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external microphone port
does not feature selfie friendly display
more heavy than average (346 grams)
32
pretty wide (25mm)
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
does not have selfie friendly screen
missing microphone port
more heavy than competition (149g)
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony TX9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Sony TX9
 Olympus XZ-2 iHSSony Cyber-shot DSC-TX9
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX9
Category Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Revealed 2012-12-18 2010-07-08
Body design Compact Ultracompact
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 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 3968 x 2976 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/3.5-4.6
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3.5"
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 2s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed - 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.60 m (ISO 800) 3.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (50 fps), 1440 x 1080 (50, 25fps), 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
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) 149 grams (0.33 lbs)
Dimensions 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") 98 x 60 x 18mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 0.7")
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 images -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model Li-90B NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 sec or 10 sec, portrait1/ portrait2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/ SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $450 $799