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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony WX30

Portability
85
Imaging
37
Features
67
Overall
49
Olympus XZ-2 iHS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
41
Overall
39

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony WX30 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
  • Launched December 2012
Sony WX30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 117g - 92 x 52 x 19mm
  • Introduced July 2011
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony WX30 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus XZ-2 iHS versus Sony WX30, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and WX30 (16MP) and the XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") and WX30 (1/2.3") offer different sensor measurements.

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The XZ-2 iHS was introduced 18 months later than the WX30 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving right into a full comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the XZ-2 iHS grades versus the WX30 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-2 iHS over the Sony WX30

 XZ-2 iHS WX30 
IntroducedDecember 2012July 2011More recent by 18 months
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Sony WX30 over the Olympus XZ-2 iHS

 WX30 XZ-2 iHS 
Screen resolution922k920kCrisper screen (+2k dot)

Common features in the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Sony WX30

 XZ-2 iHS WX30 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony WX30 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera, you're going to have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS offers exterior measurements of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") with a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs) and the Sony WX30 has specifications of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") and a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus XZ-2 iHS versus Sony WX30 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the XZ-2 iHS compared to the WX30.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony WX30 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the XZ-2 iHS and WX30 is 85 and 96 respectively.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony WX30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony WX30 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements only by reading through a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the XZ-2 iHS and WX30.

As you can see, each of these cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The XZ-2 iHS using its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony WX30 will give greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more modern XZ-2 iHS provides a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony WX30 sensor size comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony WX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony WX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Portrait photography with Sony WX30
46
has manual focus
supports face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
30
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Street photography factors
Sony WX30 Street photography factors
66
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
heavier than competition in class (346g)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (117 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sports photography information
Sony WX30 Sports photography information
43
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (340 shots)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect AF
39
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Travel photography with Sony WX30
61
better than average battery life (340 shots)
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition in class (346g)
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
69
lighter than competition (117 grams)
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
missing Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Landscape photography with Sony WX30
55
has manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (340 CIPA)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
43
decently wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
lack of manual mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus XZ-2 iHS
Vlogging with Sony WX30
36
relatively wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external mic jack
does not feature selfie friendly display
heavier than competition in class (346g)
35
decently wide (25mm)
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (117g)
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing mic support
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Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony WX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Sony WX30
 Olympus XZ-2 iHSSony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus XZ-2 iHS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-12-18 2011-07-25
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - BIONZ
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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 3968 x 2976 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 25-125mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/1.8-2.5 f/2.6-6.3
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 920 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - XtraFine TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate - 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.60 m (ISO 800) 3.70 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
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) 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
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 grams (0.76 lb) 117 grams (0.26 lb)
Physical dimensions 113 x 65 x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") 92 x 52 x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" 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 shots 250 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model Li-90B NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Price at release $450 $259