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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS1

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
25
Overall
29

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS1 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
  • Superseded the Olympus E-P1
  • Successor is Olympus E-P3
Panasonic ZS1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Introduced May 2009
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ6
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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS1 Overview

In this write-up, we will be comparing the Olympus E-P2 versus Panasonic ZS1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-P2 (12MP) and the ZS1 (10MP) is relatively well matched but the E-P2 (Four Thirds) and ZS1 (1/2.5") feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-P2 was introduced 12 months later than the ZS1 and they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a thorough comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the E-P2 scores vs the ZS1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Panasonic ZS1

 E-P2 ZS1 
IntroducedApril 2010May 2009More recent by 12 months
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS1 over the Olympus E-P2

 ZS1 E-P2 

Common features in the Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic ZS1

 E-P2 ZS1 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS1 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera often, you should factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-P2 enjoys exterior measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") and a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS1 has specifications of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-P2 versus Panasonic ZS1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are employing during that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the E-P2 and the ZS1.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-P2 and ZS1 is 86 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its difficult to see the contrast between sensor measurements only by reading through specifications. The visual here will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P2 and ZS1.

Plainly, the 2 cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-P2 using its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-P2 will resolve more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The fresher E-P2 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS1 as a Portrait photography camera
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
supports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
25
provides face detect focusing
manual focus not available
no manual mode
can't use external flash
low resolution (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Street photography details
Panasonic ZS1 Street photography details
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
fixed screen
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (229g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Sports photography advice
Panasonic ZS1 Sports photography advice
40
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
not so great battery pack (300 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
24
image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low resolution (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS1 as a Travel photography camera
43
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery pack (300 per charge)
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
63
lighter than competitors (229g)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great reach (300mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
low resolution (10MP)
does not have selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic ZS1 Landscape photography highlights
60
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
not so great battery pack (300 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
31
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no manual mode
low resolution (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Vlogging info
Panasonic ZS1 Vlogging info
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic support
31
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
lighter than competitors (229 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly display
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
missing mic jack
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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic ZS1
 Olympus PEN E-P2Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-P2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ6
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2010-04-22 2009-05-14
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.5"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 6.3
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest 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) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355g (0.78 lbs) 229g (0.50 lbs)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 pictures -
Form of battery 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/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail price $799 $0