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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic XS1

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1 front
Portability
97
Imaging
40
Features
26
Overall
34

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic XS1 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
  • Released April 2010
  • Old Model is Olympus E-P1
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-P3
Panasonic XS1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 103g - 94 x 54 x 14mm
  • Announced January 2013
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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic XS1 Overview

In this article, we will be looking at the Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic XS1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-P2 (12MP) and XS1 (16MP) and the E-P2 (Four Thirds) and XS1 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-P2 was unveiled 3 years earlier than the XS1 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic XS1 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a detailed comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-P2 grades against the XS1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Panasonic XS1

 E-P2 XS1 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Panasonic XS1 over the Olympus E-P2

 XS1 E-P2 
AnnouncedJanuary 2013April 2010More recent by 33 months

Common features in the Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic XS1

 E-P2 XS1 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic XS1 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera regularly, you need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P2 has exterior dimensions 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 XS1 has dimensions of 94mm x 54mm x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6") accompanied by a weight of 103 grams (0.23 lbs).

See the Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic XS1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-P2 versus the XS1.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic XS1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-P2 and XS1 is 86 and 97 respectively.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic XS1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic XS1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very tough to visualise the gap in sensor measurements merely by viewing technical specs. The graphic below might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P2 and XS1.

As you have seen, both of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-P2 having a bigger sensor will make getting bokeh easier and the Panasonic XS1 will provide you with greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older E-P2 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic XS1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic XS1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic XS1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic XS1 as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
low resolution sensor (12MP)
30
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Street photography highlights
Panasonic XS1 Street photography highlights
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is fixed
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (103g)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Sports photography information
Panasonic XS1 Sports photography information
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
bad battery (300 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
41
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic XS1 Travel photography highlights
43
no Timelapse function
bad battery (300 per charge)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
69
lighter than competition in class (103 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Landscape photography features
Panasonic XS1 Landscape photography features
60
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
bad battery (300 per charge)
no Timelapse function
39
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic XS1 Vlogging highlights
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone jack
31
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (103g)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic support
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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic XS1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic XS1
 Olympus PEN E-P2Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-P2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2010-04-22 2013-01-07
Physical type 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 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-6.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.40 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
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180s -
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)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 355 grams (0.78 pounds) 103 grams (0.23 pounds)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 94 x 54 x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6")
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 260 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model 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
Pricing at launch $799 $130