Olympus XZ-2 iHS vs Sony A37

Its time to take a closer look at the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Sony A37, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and A37 (16MP) and the XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") and A37 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor size.

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The XZ-2 iHS was brought out 8 months after the A37 and they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus XZ-2 iHS being a Compact camera and the Sony A37 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going into a in depth comparison, here is a quick summation of how the XZ-2 iHS grades vs the A37 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Sony SLT-A37. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus XZ-2 iHS Gallery and Sony A37 Gallery.

If you're aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus XZ-2 iHS features physical measurements of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs) while the Sony A37 has measurements of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 506 grams (1.12 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus XZ-2 iHS and Sony A37 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select during that time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the XZ-2 iHS and the A37.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the XZ-2 iHS and A37 is 85 and 67 respectively.

Often, it's difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes purely by checking out technical specs. The picture underneath will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the XZ-2 iHS and A37.

As you can tell, both cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The XZ-2 iHS featuring a smaller sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field tougher and the Sony A37 will produce greater detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more recent XZ-2 iHS will have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.