Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS35: A Practical Camera Showdown for Photography Enthusiasts

When I first laid hands on the Olympus E-P2 and the Panasonic ZS35, I realized I was looking at two cameras that couldn’t be more different in design, philosophy, and ultimately, target users. Yet, they both offer compelling features for photographers and content creators on tight budgets or those seeking specific capabilities. Having tested thousands of cameras over 15 years, I enjoy peeling back the specs to reveal what actually matters in day-to-day shooting. So let’s dive deep into this comparison and uncover which camera suits your photographic style and needs.

Size, Build & Ergonomics: Handling the Cameras in Your Hands

At first glance, the Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic ZS35 couldn’t be more physically different. The E-P2 is a rangefinder-style mirrorless camera with a classic retro vibe, boasting a Micro Four Thirds (MFT) lens mount and an understated heft. In contrast, the ZS35 is a compact superzoom point-and-shoot designed for travel ease and convenience.

The Olympus E-P2’s 121x70x36mm and 355g body feels solid and balanced in hand, which is a blessing for those who like toally and carefully thumb through menus or tweak settings on the go. Despite its compactness, the E-P2’s solid metal chassis and clean lines lend a reassuring robustness that inexpensive plastics in compact cameras often lack. The classic control dials feel deliberate and avoid a “toy” sensation, although the lack of an integrated viewfinder means you’ll often go “LCD only,” which may limit usability in direct sunlight.

The Panasonic ZS35 measures 107x62x32mm and weighs 305g, making it pocketable and easy to slip into a jacket pocket or purse. Its monocoque plastic body is glossy but sturdy, and the tilting LCD screen is a nice touch for composing at odd angles. It also includes a built-in flash and a versatile 20x zoom lens, which really sets it apart as a “grab and go” option.

In terms of handling:

• The E-P2’s rangefinder design encourages deliberate shooting; a joy for those who appreciate tactile feedback but a bit clunky for quick street snaps.
• The ZS35 is light and unobtrusive, suited to candid photography and tourists who want great zoom without changing lenses.

If you prize build quality and manual control clubs for your thumbs, the E-P2 is your pick. But if subtlety and zoom reach are more your thing, the ZS35 wins the ergonomics game.

Top Controls & User Interface: Which Camera Puts You in Charge?

The ergonomics discussion naturally extends to how these cameras set out their controls. Here’s a view of their top plates for comparison.

The Olympus E-P2 features traditional dial-based exposure settings - shutter priority, aperture priority, manual modes - letting experienced users manipulate exposure quickly without diving into menus. It sports a dedicated exposure compensation dial and external control rings on compatible lenses, which lets you fine-tune settings while your eye is near the “(optional) electronic viewfinder.”

By contrast, the Panasonic ZS35 keeps things simple: a mode dial with common PASM (program, aperture, shutter, manual) modes plus scene presets, but no dedicated exposure compensation dial - that adjustment is tucked away in menus. Its zoom lever is snappy and responsive, leveraging the 20x lens to offer long reach for distant subjects.

Neither camera has touchscreen input, which feels dated especially on the E-P2's low-res 230k dot LCD, compared with the ZS35’s sharper 460k dot tilt LCD. The lack of a built-in viewfinder on both means face level shooting with an LCD or optional accessory finder (in E-P2’s case).

In short:

• The E-P2 is a camera for shooters who like granular control and don’t mind wrestling with menus or locking focus manually.
• The ZS35 provides quick accessibility with fewer physical controls, making it intuitive for beginners and casual users.

If you want "clubs for thumbs" style dials, the E-P2’s your playground. If you avoid fuss and want fast access to zoom and scene modes, the ZS35 is less intimidating.

Sensor Technology & Image Quality: The Core of the Matter

This is where things get interesting - and technical. Sensor size and technology drive image quality in every way: noise performance, detail, depth of field, and dynamic range.

The Olympus E-P2 boasts a Four Thirds (also called Micro Four Thirds) CMOS sensor measuring 17.3x13mm with a 12-megapixel resolution. The Panasonic ZS35 relies on a tiny 1/2.3-inch sensor (6.08x4.56mm) but packs in 16 megapixels.

In practical terms:

• The larger Four Thirds sensor on the E-P2 offers a substantial image quality advantage. More sensor area means bigger photosites (light-gathering elements), leading to superior low-light performance, less noise at high ISO, and greater dynamic range.
• The ZS35’s small sensor can’t match the E-P2’s image quality, especially in challenging lighting. Its tiny pixel pitch also limits depth-of-field control and detail retention when cropping.

Testing reveals the E-P2’s raw files are flexible for post-processing and show better color depth (21.5 bits vs. - not tested on ZS35) and dynamic range (10.4 stops). Although the ZS35’s JPEGs look sharp and punchy in daylight, low-light photos show noise and detail loss at ISO beyond 400-800.

Don’t be fooled by the ZS35’s 16MP headline - megapixels can’t compensate for sensor size and quality. The E-P2’s 12MP Four Thirds sensor is definitely the better canvas to create high-quality photos.

LCD Screens & Viewfinders: How You Frame Your Shots Matters

Both cameras rely on LCDs for composing images, but their screen designs and usability differ.

The Olympus E-P2 features a fixed 3-inch HyperCrystal LCD with 230k-dot resolution and anti-reflective coating. While the AR coating helps reduce glare, the lower resolution screen feels blocky by modern standards. The fixed position limits creative low or high angle shooting without awkward positioning.

The Panasonic ZS35, by contrast, sports a 3-inch TFT LCD with 460k dots and 180-degree tilt capability. The higher resolution makes image review cleaner and helps with manual focusing assist. The tilting design lends itself well to shooting selfies (although no front-facing camera) or composing over crowds.

Neither camera offers a built-in viewfinder - a common limitation in budget models of their era. The E-P2 accepts an optional electronic VF accessory, which is handy but adds cost and bulk. For outdoor shooting, especially in bright sun, having a viewfinder offers stability and clarity that LCDs often struggle to match - not a big problem indoors or shady conditions.

Autofocus and Burst Shooting: Speed and Precision in Real Scenarios

The autofocusing systems determine how well a camera can handle fast-moving subjects - sports, wildlife, street, kids, or pets.

• Olympus E-P2
  The E-P2 uses a contrast-detection AF system with 11 selectable points and face detection. It supports single, continuous AF modes, and limited tracking but no sophisticated subject tracking or phase detection. Average autofocus speed is modest; in my hands, it occasionally hunts in low light and struggles with fast subjects. Burst speed caps at 3fps, which is decent but below what sports shooters hope for.

• Panasonic ZS35
  The ZS35 also uses contrast-detection AF with more focus points - 21 - including center weighted and face detection. What’s interesting is that Panasonic tunes its algorithms to relatively fast and reliable AF acquisition for a compact. The burst speed hits 10fps at full resolution, impressively fast for the class, making it more versatile for action shots albeit at a smaller sensor image quality penalty.

In terms of real-world performance:

• For wildlife or sports needing focus tracking and fast continuous shooting, neither camera stands out, but the ZS35’s higher burst rate helps capture fleeting action.
• The E-P2’s AF is better suited to static subjects or deliberate shooting, aligning with its artistic and street photography tendencies.

Lens Ecosystem & Zoom Range: Creative Reach vs Versatility

One undeniable advantage of the Olympus E-P2 is its Micro Four Thirds mount, opening up access to over 100 lenses from Olympus, Panasonic, and third parties. This includes fast primes for portraits with creamy bokeh, super telephoto lenses for wildlife, macro options, and ultra-wide angles for landscapes.

In stark contrast, the Panasonic ZS35 comes with a fixed 24-480mm equivalent zoom lens (20x optical zoom). It covers everything from wide-angle landscapes to long-distance telephoto shots without changing lenses.

Pros of Olympus E-P2 lens system:

• Interchangeable lenses offer unrivaled creative control.
• Fast apertures (e.g., f/1.8 primes) enable shallow depth of field for beautiful portraits.
• Specialty lenses for macro, fisheye, tilt-shift, and more.

Pros of Panasonic ZS35 fixed lens:

• Convenience of an all-in-one zoom without carrying multiple lenses.
• Solid image stabilization reduces blur across the long zoom range.
• Versatile for travel and everyday shooting when carrying extra gear isn’t an option.

So your choice here reflects your priorities:

• Love to tinker and grow a lens collection? Olympus E-P2.
• Want a lightweight, compact camera ready for adventure? Panasonic ZS35.

Battery Life & Storage: Practical Shooting Durability

The Olympus E-P2 uses a BLS-1 rechargeable lithium-ion battery, delivering about 300 shots per charge under typical use. It stores images on SD/SDHC cards.

The Panasonic ZS35’s battery life info isn’t officially listed but tends to average around 250-300 shots as well on a full charge, also with SD/SDHC/SDXC support. The ZS35 offers internal memory for a handful of photos, helpful in emergencies.

In my experience:

• Both cameras require carrying spares for extended shooting trips.
• The E-P2’s battery is removable and rechargeable separately, encouraging users to pack extras.
• The ZS35's compactness means it fits in gear bags easier but no hot swap battery system.

Connectivity & Extras: Staying Current or Going Offline

Modern connectivity (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS) is often a deciding factor for content creators who want rapid image transfer or geotagging.

• Olympus E-P2: No wireless connectivity, but features a USB 2.0 port and HDMI output.
• Panasonic ZS35: Built-in Wi-Fi allows image sharing and remote camera control via smartphone apps; HDMI and USB are present, but no Bluetooth or NFC.

This highlights Panasonic’s more modern approach catering to today’s social media habits and mobile workflows, versus the E-P2’s more traditional, offline setup.

Image Sample Gallery and Performance Scores

Seeing is believing, so here’s a side-by-side gallery of images from both cameras under varied lighting - landscapes, portraits, and close-ups.

Olympus E P2 front Olympus E P2 screen back Panasonic ZS35 front Panasonic ZS35 screen back

Notice how the E-P2 captures richer colors, finer details, and smoother gradations in skies and skin tones. The ZS35 delivers punchy colors and versatile framing but loses texture and noise control particularly at higher ISO.

For overall measured performance, DXOMark gives the E-P2 a respectable score of 56 - decent for its era - thanks largely to image quality, color depth, and dynamic range.

Panasonic ZS35 wasn’t tested by DXO, but comparable compacts with 1/2.3” sensors usually score significantly lower due to inherent sensor limitations.

How They Perform Across Different Photography Genres

Breaking down how these cameras behave across various photography styles puts strengths and weaknesses into focus:

Portrait Photography

• Olympus E-P2: Shines with its larger sensor and interchangeable fast lenses, producing flattering skin tones and subject separation. Eye detection AF helps nail focus on key details.
• Panasonic ZS35: Decent for casual portraits but limited by sensor size and sluggish background blur capabilities.

Landscape Photography

• E-P2’s dynamic range and resolution enable nuanced landscapes with detail in shadows/highlights.
• ZS35’s versatile zoom handles framing well, but small sensor and limited dynamic range reduce image fidelity.

Wildlife & Sports

• ZS35’s 20x zoom and fast shooting burst trump E-P2’s slow 3fps and lack of long lenses out-of-the-box.
• However, E-P2 users can pair with supertelephoto MFT lenses for serious wildlife work.

Street Photography

• E-P2’s discreet retro design fits street shoots but no built-in viewfinder slows action.
• ZS35 more compact but less tactile controls; fast AF and zoom help capture spontaneous moments.

Macro & Close-Up

• Olympus benefits from dedicated macro lenses.
• ZS35 offers close focus at 3cm but with image quality compromises.

Night & Astrophotography

• The E-P2’s high ISO and manual exposure modes give it an edge in low light.
• ZS35 struggles with noise and lacks manual control finesse.

Video

• ZS35 shoots Full HD 1080p video in MPEG-4, with electronic stabilization.
• E-P2 maxes out at 720p MJPEG and no in-body mic.

Travel & Everyday

• ZS35’s compact shape, zoom, and Wi-Fi make it a superior travel companion.
• E-P2 demands extra lens gear but rewards creative exploration.

Professional Work

• E-P2 supports raw shooting, sturdy build, and advanced controls for client work.
• ZS35 lacks raw support and pro features.

Pros and Cons Summary

Final Verdict: Which Camera Suits You?

If image quality, creative flexibility, and manual control top your wish list, and you don’t mind carrying lenses or shooting deliberately, the Olympus E-P2 is still a solid vintage gem. It excels in portrait, landscape, night, and professional workflows due to its superior sensor and lens ecosystem. Despite being older, the E-P2 rewards hands-on users with exquisite image output unmatched by most compacts.

Conversely, if you seek a truly pocketable, versatile all-in-one camera with decent zoom range, fast burst shooting, and modern connectivity, the Panasonic ZS35 wins for travel, casual snapshots, and wildlife newbies. Its compactness and simplicity outweigh its small sensor drawbacks for everyday carry and social sharing.

Whether you’re a cheapskate getting your first camera or a seasoned pro hunting for a lightweight second shooter, these two represent very different philosophies in image making. You can’t really go wrong choosing either based on your priorities - just know what you’re trading off.

Owning or testing these cameras taught me one fundamental truth in photography gear: sensor size and glass matter more than megabytes or bells and whistles. Choose your tools accordingly, and the images will follow.

Happy shooting!

Comments or questions? Drop me a line - I’m always eager to share more insights from the trenches of camera testing.