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Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus SZ-12

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
 
Olympus SZ-12 front
Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus SZ-12 Key Specs

Olympus E-P2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Launched April 2010
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-P1
  • Later Model is Olympus E-P3
Olympus SZ-12
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Introduced January 2012
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Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus SZ-12 Overview

Below is a comprehensive overview of the Olympus E-P2 versus Olympus SZ-12, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are sold by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-P2 (12MP) and the SZ-12 (14MP) is very well matched but the E-P2 (Four Thirds) and SZ-12 (1/2.3") feature different sensor measurements.

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The E-P2 was introduced 20 months prior to the SZ-12 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-P2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple summation of how the E-P2 grades against the SZ-12 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Olympus SZ-12

 E-P2 SZ-12 
Focus manually More accurate focus

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Olympus E-P2

 SZ-12 E-P2 
IntroducedJanuary 2012April 2010More recent by 20 months
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P2 and Olympus SZ-12

 E-P2 SZ-12 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus SZ-12 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P2 enjoys external dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") and a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) whilst the Olympus SZ-12 has dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-P2 versus Olympus SZ-12 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-P2 against the SZ-12.

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus SZ-12 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-P2 and SZ-12 is 86 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus SZ-12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus SZ-12 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be hard to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements purely by reading through a spec sheet. The visual underneath should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P2 and SZ-12.

As you can see, the 2 cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-P2 using its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Olympus SZ-12 will resolve greater detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images much more aggressively. The older E-P2 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus SZ-12 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
33
decent megapixels (14MP)
provides face detection autofocus
no manual focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P2
Street photography with Olympus SZ-12
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no articulating screen
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P2
Sports photography with Olympus SZ-12
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
low battery (300 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
40
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery (220 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-P2
Travel photography with Olympus SZ-12
43
lack of Time Lapse recording
low battery (300 shots)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
65
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
no Time Lapse recording
low battery (220 shots)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Landscape photography info
Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography info
60
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
low battery (300 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
40
really wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
low battery (220 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P2
Vlogging with Olympus SZ-12
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic port
31
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection autofocus
lighter than competition in class (226g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic jack
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Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus SZ-12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P2 and Olympus SZ-12
 Olympus PEN E-P2Olympus SZ-12
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-P2 Olympus SZ-12
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2010-04-22 2012-01-10
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1700 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 355 gr (0.78 lbs) 226 gr (0.50 lbs)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 505 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photos 220 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $799 $350