Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS50

Below is a comprehensive assessment of the Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic ZS50, one being 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 ZS50 (12MP) is relatively well matched but the E-P2 (Four Thirds) and ZS50 (1/2.3") come with different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The E-P2 was launched 5 years before the ZS50 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-P2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS50 being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the E-P2 scores versus the ZS50 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-P2 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50. The complete galleries are available at Olympus E-P2 Gallery and Panasonic ZS50 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P2 features 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) whilst the Panasonic ZS50 has proportions of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") with a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic ZS50 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is the front view size comparison of the E-P2 against the ZS50.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P2 and ZS50 is 86 and 90 respectively.

Typically, it's difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements merely by checking technical specs. The graphic here will give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P2 and ZS50.

As you have seen, both of those cameras posses the exact same megapixel count albeit different sensor measurements. The E-P2 features the bigger sensor which will make obtaining shallower DOF less difficult. The older E-P2 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.