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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS15

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS15 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
  • Revealed April 2010
  • Superseded the Olympus E-P1
  • New Model is Olympus E-P3
Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Announced June 2012
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Newer Model is Panasonic ZS20
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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS15 Overview

Below, we are comparing the Olympus E-P2 versus Panasonic ZS15, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-P2 (12MP) and the ZS15 (12MP) is very well matched but the E-P2 (Four Thirds) and ZS15 (1/2.3") possess different sensor size.

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The E-P2 was announced 3 years before the ZS15 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-P2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a complete comparison, below is a brief view of how the E-P2 matches up vs the ZS15 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Panasonic ZS15

 E-P2 ZS15 
Focus manually Very exact focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Olympus E-P2

 ZS15 E-P2 
AnnouncedJune 2012April 2010More recent by 26 months
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic ZS15

 E-P2 ZS15 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS15 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P2 enjoys outside 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 ZS15 has sizing of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-P2 versus Panasonic ZS15 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are working with at the time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the E-P2 against the ZS15.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS15 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P2 and ZS15 is 86 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS15 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very tough to visualize the difference between sensor measurements purely by checking specs. The photograph below should give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P2 and ZS15.

All in all, each of the cameras posses the exact same resolution but different sensor measurements. The E-P2 includes the larger sensor which is going to make getting shallow DOF easier. The older E-P2 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography advice
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
21
lack of manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Street photography info
Panasonic ZS15 Street photography info
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen does not articulate
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (208g)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Sports photography details
Panasonic ZS15 Sports photography details
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low MP (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (300 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
36
excellent zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (260 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Travel photography factors
Panasonic ZS15 Travel photography factors
43
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery (300 per charge)
low MP (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
61
lighter than average in class (208 grams)
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
very long reach (384mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
not so great battery life (260 shots)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Landscape photography camera
60
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (300 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse recording
37
rather wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
not so great battery life (260 per charge)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Vlogging camera
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic socket
33
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (208 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone support
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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic ZS15
 Olympus PEN E-P2Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-P2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ25
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-04-22 2012-06-29
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
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 - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355g (0.78 lb) 208g (0.46 lb)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" 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 images 260 images
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 recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at release $799 $279