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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ7

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 front
Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
41
Overall
38

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ7 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
  • Announced April 2010
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-P1
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-P3
Panasonic SZ7
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 133g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Introduced January 2012
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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ7 Overview

The following is a in depth analysis of the Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic SZ7, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-P2 (12MP) and the SZ7 (14MP) is very comparable but the E-P2 (Four Thirds) and SZ7 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-P2 was revealed 20 months earlier than the SZ7 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ7 being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a more detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-P2 matches up versus the SZ7 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Panasonic SZ7

 E-P2 SZ7 
Manually focus Very exact focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ7 over the Olympus E-P2

 SZ7 E-P2 
IntroducedJanuary 2012April 2010Newer by 20 months
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic SZ7

 E-P2 SZ7 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ7 Physical Comparison

If you're going to travel with your camera, you are going to need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P2 comes with physical dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") and a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ7 has measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs).

See the Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic SZ7 in the all new Camera and 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 using at that time. Following is the front view size comparison of the E-P2 and the SZ7.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ7 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P2 and SZ7 is 86 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ7 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to see the difference in sensor dimensions only by going through technical specs. The pic here may offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P2 and SZ7.

As you can tell, each of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-P2 having a larger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic SZ7 will show more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images far more aggressively. The more aged E-P2 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Portrait photography info
Panasonic SZ7 Portrait photography info
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
33
megapixel count decent (14MP)
has face detect focus
no manual focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Street photography highlights
Panasonic SZ7 Street photography highlights
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no articulating screen
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (133g)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Sports photography information
Panasonic SZ7 Sports photography information
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
terrible battery life (300 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
has tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic SZ7 as a Travel photography camera
43
lack of Time Lapse recording
terrible battery life (300 shots)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
70
lighter than competition (133 grams)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
no Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic SZ7 Landscape photography advice
60
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
terrible battery life (300 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
42
rather wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic SZ7 as a Vlogging camera
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
does not contain selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic port
35
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (133g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
no mic jack
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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic SZ7
 Olympus PEN E-P2Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-P2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2010-04-22 2012-01-09
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing range - 4cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355 gr (0.78 lb) 133 gr (0.29 lb)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 pictures 220 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID 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 1 1
Cost at launch $799 $199