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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ3

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ3 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
  • Released April 2010
  • Older Model is Olympus E-P1
  • Replacement is Olympus E-P3
Panasonic SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
  • Released January 2013
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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ3 Overview

The following is a in-depth assessment of the Olympus E-P2 versus Panasonic SZ3, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizeable gap among the image resolutions of the E-P2 (12MP) and SZ3 (16MP) and the E-P2 (Four Thirds) and SZ3 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor size.

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The E-P2 was unveiled 3 years prior to the SZ3 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-P2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ3 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick overview of how the E-P2 grades versus the SZ3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Panasonic SZ3

 E-P2 SZ3 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Olympus E-P2

 SZ3 E-P2 
ReleasedJanuary 2013April 2010Newer by 33 months

Common features in the Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic SZ3

 E-P2 SZ3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ3 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to travel with your camera regularly, you'll need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P2 enjoys exterior dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ3 has sizing of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-P2 versus Panasonic SZ3 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 working with at that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the E-P2 and the SZ3.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-P2 and SZ3 is 86 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its tough to see the difference in sensor dimensions simply by checking out specs. The image underneath should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P2 and SZ3.

All in all, both cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-P2 with its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF easier and the Panasonic SZ3 will provide more detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs way more aggressively. The more aged E-P2 will be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-P2
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ3
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
supports RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
30
resolution is good (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Street photography info
Panasonic SZ3 Street photography info
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no articulating screen
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (126 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Sports photography camera
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12MP)
not so great battery pack (300 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
41
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Travel photography advice
Panasonic SZ3 Travel photography advice
43
no Time Lapse recording
not so great battery pack (300 per charge)
MP count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
71
lighter than competition (126 grams)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Landscape photography camera
60
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (300 per charge)
no Time Lapse recording
39
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Vlogging camera
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic port
31
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (126g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic socket
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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic SZ3
 Olympus PEN E-P2Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-P2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2010-04-22 2013-01-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V -
Sensor type CMOS 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 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355 grams (0.78 pounds) 126 grams (0.28 pounds)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 505 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photographs 250 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail price $799 $150