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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS20 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
  • Launched April 2010
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-P1
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-P3
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Launched April 2012
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Previous Model is Panasonic ZS15
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS25
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

Here, we will be looking at the Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS20, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-P2 (12MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is relatively comparable but the E-P2 (Four Thirds) and ZS20 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-P2 was unveiled 24 months earlier than the ZS20 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-P2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a complete comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the E-P2 matches up against the ZS20 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Panasonic ZS20

 E-P2 ZS20 
Manual focus Very accurate focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Olympus E-P2

 ZS20 E-P2 
LaunchedApril 2012April 2010Newer by 24 months
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic ZS20

 E-P2 ZS20 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to travel with your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P2 has outside measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") having a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS20 has sizing of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS20 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you choose during that time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the E-P2 and the ZS20.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-P2 and ZS20 is 86 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to see the gap in sensor dimensions merely by checking out technical specs. The picture here will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P2 and ZS20.

As you can tell, both the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-P2 having a bigger sensor will make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Panasonic ZS20 will provide greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-P2 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Portrait photography camera
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
30
decent MP (14MP)
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Street photography camera
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has touch focus
lighter than competition (206 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Sports photography advice
Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography advice
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
max fps very slow (3.0 fps)
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery pack (300 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
47
long zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
provides tracking focus
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (260 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Travel photography info
Panasonic ZS20 Travel photography info
43
lack of Time Lapse recording
terrible battery pack (300 shots)
MP count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
68
lighter than competition (206 grams)
has touch focus
decent MP (14MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
great reach (480mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
not so great battery power (260 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Landscape photography features
Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography features
60
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery pack (300 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
42
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
not so great battery power (260 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P2
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS20
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic support
34
pretty wide (24mm)
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (206g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone socket
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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic ZS20
 Olympus PEN E-P2Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-P2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2010-04-22 2012-04-26
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 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
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 15s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest 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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355 gr (0.78 pounds) 206 gr (0.45 pounds)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 260 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID 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 One One
Price at launch $799 $349