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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic LZ20

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 front
Portability
71
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic LZ20 Key Specs

Olympus E-P2
(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 April 2010
  • Replaced the Olympus E-P1
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-P3
Panasonic LZ20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-525mm (F3.1-5.8) lens
  • 499g - 120 x 76 x 80mm
  • Introduced July 2012
  • Updated by Panasonic LZ30
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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic LZ20 Overview

Here, we are looking at the Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic LZ20, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the E-P2 (12MP) and LZ20 (16MP) and the E-P2 (Four Thirds) and LZ20 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizes.

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The E-P2 was launched 3 years earlier than the LZ20 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-P2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LZ20 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief summary of how the E-P2 scores versus the LZ20 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Panasonic LZ20

 E-P2 LZ20 
Focus manually More precise focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ20 over the Olympus E-P2

 LZ20 E-P2 
IntroducedJuly 2012April 2010Fresher by 27 months
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic LZ20

 E-P2 LZ20 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic LZ20 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera often, you will have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P2 features exterior measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) while the Panasonic LZ20 has dimensions of 120mm x 76mm x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic LZ20 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the E-P2 versus the LZ20.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic LZ20 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P2 and LZ20 is 86 and 71 respectively.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic LZ20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic LZ20 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to visualize the difference in sensor sizing simply by looking through technical specs. The visual underneath will give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P2 and LZ20.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-P2 because of its larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh simpler and the Panasonic LZ20 will result in more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will let you crop pics way more aggressively. The older E-P2 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic LZ20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic LZ20 as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
36
good MP (16 megapixels)
offers face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Street photography features
Panasonic LZ20 Street photography features
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
fixed screen
45
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
more heavy than competitors (499g)
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic LZ20 as a Sports photography camera
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
low battery life (300 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
47
great zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
great battery power (380 CIPA)
low fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Travel photography factors
Panasonic LZ20 Travel photography factors
43
missing Time Lapse recording
low battery life (300 per charge)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
58
great battery power (380 shots)
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
long zoom (525mm)
missing Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors (499 grams)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic LZ20 Landscape photography advice
60
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
low battery life (300 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
45
quite wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
great battery power (380 CIPA)
manual focus not available
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P2
Vlogging with Panasonic LZ20
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
does not contain selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic port
25
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone port
more heavy than competitors (499 grams)
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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic LZ20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic LZ20
 Olympus PEN E-P2Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-P2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-04-22 2012-07-18
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 1600
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-525mm (21.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-5.8
Macro focus range - 2cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 15 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 6.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 seconds -
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 720p ( 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 jack
Headphone jack
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 355g (0.78 pounds) 499g (1.10 pounds)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 120 x 76 x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1")
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 photographs 380 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $799 $250