• 1/1.72 inch 41.5mm2
  • 13.6 megapixels
  • 28.00mm - 102.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 1/1.7 inch 43.3mm2
  • 12.0 megapixels
  • 28.00mm - 112.00mm (35mm eq.)

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Differences

Samsung SL310 advantages over Olympus XZ-2

  • Less expensive
    $230 vs $600 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Thinner
    22 mm vs 48 mm
    Thinner
  • Lighter weight
    138g vs 357g
    Lighter weight

Olympus XZ-2 advantages over Samsung SL310

  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Larger lens aperture
    f/1.8 vs f/2.8
    Take photos in low-light or isolate your subject
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • RAW file ability
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Manual focus
    Yes vs No
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • Integrated ND filter
    Yes vs No
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • HDMI out
    HDMI out vs None
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • More dots on screen
    920k vs 230k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Hot shoe
    Hot shoe vs None
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 8 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Bulb shutter
    Bulb vs No bulb
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
  • Higher extended ISO
    12800 vs 3200 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash

Common Weaknesses

  • Focus peaking
    Neither provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Neither provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Neither provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

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Buy the Samsung SL310

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Buy the Olympus XZ-2
Olympus XZ-2

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.

  • Read our Olympus XZ-2 Express Review

The Competition

Compared to Pentax A40

Samsung SL310
Pentax A40
  • $230
  • 1/1.72 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Wider angle lens
  • $300
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Manual focus

Compare Samsung SL310 vs Pentax A40

Olympus XZ-2
Pentax A40
  • $470
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $300
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Thinner

Compare Olympus XZ-2 vs Pentax A40

Compared to Pentax S12

Samsung SL310
Pentax S12
  • $230
  • 1/1.72 inch
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $280
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Manual focus

Compare Samsung SL310 vs Pentax S12

Olympus XZ-2
Pentax S12
  • $470
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Touchscreen
  • $280
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Thinner

Compare Olympus XZ-2 vs Pentax S12

Compared to Samsung TL34HD

Samsung SL310
Samsung TL34HD
  • $230
  • 1/1.72 inch
  • Less expensive
  • $330
  • 1/1.72 inch
  • HDMI out
  • More dots on screen

Compare Samsung SL310 vs Samsung TL34HD

Olympus XZ-2
Samsung TL34HD
  • $470
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $330
  • 1/1.72 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Thinner

Compare Olympus XZ-2 vs Samsung TL34HD

Compared to Pentax MX-1

Samsung SL310
Pentax MX-1
  • $230
  • 1/1.72 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Thinner
  • $399
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Larger lens aperture

Compare Samsung SL310 vs 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

Compare Olympus XZ-2 vs Pentax MX-1

Compared to Canon G16

Samsung SL310
Canon G16
  • $230
  • 1/1.72 inch
  • Thinner
  • Lighter weight
  • $499
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Samsung SL310 vs 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

Compare Olympus XZ-2 vs Canon G16

Compare Other Cameras?