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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ8

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ8 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
  • Introduced April 2010
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-P1
  • Later Model is Olympus E-P3
Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Released January 2014
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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ8 Overview

In this write-up, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ8, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a big gap between the resolutions of the E-P2 (12MP) and SZ8 (16MP) and the E-P2 (Four Thirds) and SZ8 (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizes.

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The E-P2 was manufactured 4 years before the SZ8 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ8 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a complete comparison, below is a simple view of how the E-P2 grades vs the SZ8 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Panasonic SZ8

 E-P2 SZ8 
Manual focus Very precise focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Olympus E-P2

 SZ8 E-P2 
ReleasedJanuary 2014April 2010Fresher by 45 months
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic SZ8

 E-P2 SZ8 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ8 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P2 has got exterior dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") and a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ8 has dimensions of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ8 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-P2 and the SZ8.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ8 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-P2 and SZ8 is 86 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ8 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizing purely by going over a spec sheet. The graphic here will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P2 and SZ8.

As you can see, the 2 cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-P2 because of its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field easier and the Panasonic SZ8 will offer extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older E-P2 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Portrait photography info
Panasonic SZ8 Portrait photography info
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
resolution not great (12MP)
35
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
features face detection focus
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Street photography highlights
Panasonic SZ8 Street photography highlights
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no articulating screen
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (159g)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ8 as a Sports photography camera
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
max frames per second low (3.0 fps)
resolution not great (12MP)
low battery life (300 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
max fps very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
low battery life (200 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography highlights
43
lack of Time Lapse function
low battery life (300 per charge)
resolution not great (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
67
lighter than competition (159g)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
great zoom (288mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low battery life (200 per charge)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic SZ8 Landscape photography advice
60
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
resolution not great (12MP)
low battery life (300 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
42
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
low battery life (200 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P2
Vlogging with Panasonic SZ8
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
does not offer selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic socket
32
reasonably wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
lighter than competition (159g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic support
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic SZ8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic SZ8
 Olympus PEN E-P2Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-P2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-04-22 2014-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic V Venus Engine
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 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-288mm (12.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.1-6.3
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 8s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.20 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180s -
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) 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 355 grams (0.78 lbs) 159 grams (0.35 lbs)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 pictures 200 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $799 $275