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Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic S2

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
31
Overall
38
Olympus E-400 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
29
Overall
33

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic S2 Key Specs

Olympus E-400
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 435g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Introduced September 2006
  • Successor is Olympus E-410
Panasonic S2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 112g - 98 x 57 x 21mm
  • Revealed January 2012
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Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic S2 Overview

Below is a comprehensive review of the Olympus E-400 and Panasonic S2, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizeable difference among the image resolutions of the E-400 (10MP) and S2 (14MP) and the E-400 (Four Thirds) and S2 (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizes.

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The E-400 was released 6 years earlier than the S2 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-400 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic S2 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-400 grades versus the S2 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-400 over the Panasonic S2

 E-400 S2 
Focus manually More precise focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic S2 over the Olympus E-400

 S2 E-400 
RevealedJanuary 2012September 2006More recent by 64 months
Display dimensions2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution230k215kCrisper display (+15k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-400 and Panasonic S2

 E-400 S2 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic S2 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-400 provides outside measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") with a weight of 435 grams (0.96 lbs) and the Panasonic S2 has dimensions of 98mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") and a weight of 112 grams (0.25 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-400 and Panasonic S2 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the E-400 against the S2.

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic S2 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-400 and S2 is 77 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic S2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic S2 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to picture the contrast in sensor measurements purely by seeing specifications. The visual below will help give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-400 and S2.

To sum up, both of the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-400 because of its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Panasonic S2 will show greater detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will let you crop images a bit more aggressively. The older E-400 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic S2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-400 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic S2 Portrait photography highlights
46
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
does not have liveview
no manual control
megapixel count low (10MP)
33
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
provides face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-400 Street photography information
Panasonic S2 Street photography information
60
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no moving screen
no image stabilization
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (112g)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-400 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic S2 as a Sports photography camera
38
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
max fps very slow (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
39
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
good battery (280 shots)
slow frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-400
Travel photography with Panasonic S2
49
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse function
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
70
good battery (280 shots)
lighter than competition (112 grams)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-400 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic S2 as a Landscape photography camera
45
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
does not have liveview
no manual control
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (10MP)
does not have Timelapse function
41
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
good battery (280 shots)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual control
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-400 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic S2 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
32
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (112g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic jack
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Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-400 and Panasonic S2
 Olympus E-400Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-400 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2006-09-14 2012-01-09
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 215 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 435g (0.96 lb) 112g (0.25 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 98 x 57 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 280 images
Battery format - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch price $599 $109