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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic S2

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic S2 Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Revealed July 2009
  • Successor is Olympus E-P2
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
  • Announced January 2012
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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic S2 Overview

Here is a complete comparison of the Olympus E-P1 versus Panasonic S2, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the S2 (14MP) is very close but the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and S2 (1/2.3") offer different sensor dimensions.

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The E-P1 was announced 3 years prior to the S2 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S2 being a Compact camera.

Before we go right into a in depth comparison, here is a concise summary of how the E-P1 grades versus the S2 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Panasonic S2

 E-P1 S2 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Panasonic S2 over the Olympus E-P1

 S2 E-P1 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012July 2009Fresher by 29 months

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic S2

 E-P1 S2 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic S2 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P1 comes with outer measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") along with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) whilst the Panasonic S2 has proportions of 98mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") along with a weight of 112 grams (0.25 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-P1 versus Panasonic S2 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you select during that time. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the E-P1 and the S2.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic S2 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-P1 and S2 is 86 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic S2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic S2 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing only by viewing specifications. The graphic here will provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P1 and S2.

Plainly, each of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-P1 using its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Panasonic S2 will provide you with greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics way more aggressively. The older E-P1 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic S2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography information
Panasonic S2 Portrait photography information
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
34
resolution is good (14MP)
supports face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Street photography highlights
Panasonic S2 Street photography highlights
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
fixed screen
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (112 grams)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic S2 as a Sports photography camera
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12MP)
terrible battery pack (300 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
40
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
better than average battery (280 per charge)
max fps low (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-P1
Travel photography with Panasonic S2
43
no Time Lapse function
terrible battery pack (300 per charge)
low resolution (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
71
better than average battery (280 per charge)
lighter than competition (112g)
resolution is good (14MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
doesn't have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography details
Panasonic S2 Landscape photography details
60
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
terrible battery pack (300 shots)
no Time Lapse function
41
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
better than average battery (280 per charge)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
lack of manual exposure
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Vlogging details
Panasonic S2 Vlogging details
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic port
33
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (112 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone jack
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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic S2
 Olympus PEN E-P1Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-P1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2009-07-29 2012-01-09
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355 gr (0.78 pounds) 112 gr (0.25 pounds)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 98 x 57 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photos 280 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $182 $109