• 1/1.7 inch 43.3mm2
  • 12.0 megapixels
  • 28.00mm - 112.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 35mm 847.3mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200

Buy From

Differences

Olympus XZ-2 advantages over Sony A9

  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Integrated ND filter
    Yes vs No
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • Thinner
    48 mm vs 63 mm
    Thinner
  • Lighter weight
    357g vs 673g
    Lighter weight
  • Less shutter lag
    0.12 vs 0.22 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots

Sony A9 advantages over Olympus XZ-2

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    35mm vs 1/1.7 inch
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 5.93 vs 1.92 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Fast startup
    ~1.20 vs 1.8 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Better color depth
    24.9 vs 20.4 bits
    Capture richer, more accurate colors
  • Higher effective ISO
    3,517 vs 216 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    13.3 vs 11.3 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 650 vs 310 shots
    Capture more photos
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Newer
    8 years vs 12 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • More pixels
    24.2 vs 12.0 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    20.0 fps vs 5.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    364 vs 4 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    20.0 fps vs 5.0 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    240 vs 3 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Faster shutter
    1/32000 vs 1/2000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    204800 vs 12800 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Rear display
    Both provide
    Review photos on the back of the camera
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Touchscreen
    Both provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Tiltable Screen
    Both provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • RAW file ability
    Both provide
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Manual focus
    Both provide
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera

User reviews

Buy From

Review Excerpt

  • Good image quality for its class; Fast, bright f/1.8-2.5 i.ZUIKO 4x zoom lens; Dual-purpose front Control Ring lets you select aperture or focus manually; three-inch articulating LCD touch-screen monitor.

  • Pricier than many enthusiast compacts; Image detail starts dropping off at ISO 800 and noise becomes problematic at ISO 3200; Lens cover pops off as zoom lens extends, when you turn the camera on.

  • New sensor offers incredible performance; Excellent image quality at low & high ISOs; Very good dynamic range; Phenomenal 20fps burst speed & deep buffer; Very good battery life for a mirrorless; 4K video; Dual card slots.

  • Slow buffer clearing; Only one card slot is UHS-II compatible; Touchscreen underutilized; No lossless RAW compression option; No 4K/60p option.

The Competition

Compared to Canon G15

Olympus XZ-2
Canon G15
  • $470
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $650
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Eye-level viewfinder
Sony A9
Canon G15
  • $2997
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $650
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Internal flash
  • Integrated ND filter

Compared to Pentax MX-1

Olympus XZ-2
Pentax MX-1
  • $470
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • Hot shoe
  • $399
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Shoots 60p video
Sony A9
Pentax MX-1
  • $2997
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $399
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Internal flash

Compared to Canon G16

Olympus XZ-2
Canon G16
  • $470
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $499
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Eye-level viewfinder
Sony A9
Canon G16
  • $2997
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
  • $499
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Slower slow-motion

Compared to Leica SL (Typ 601)

Olympus XZ-2
Leica SL (Typ 601)
  • $470
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $3802
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Sony A9
Leica SL (Typ 601)
  • $2997
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $3802
  • 35mm
  • Built-in GPS
  • Top deck display

Compared to Sony A9 II

Olympus XZ-2
Sony A9 II
  • $470
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Internal flash
  • $4498
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Sony A9
Sony A9 II
  • $2997
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • $4498
  • 35mm
  • Newer
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