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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS50

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 front
Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS50 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
  • Introduced April 2010
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-P1
  • Updated by Olympus E-P3
Panasonic ZS50
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 243g - 111 x 65 x 34mm
  • Revealed January 2015
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ70
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS45
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS60
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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS50 Overview

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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Panasonic ZS50

 E-P2 ZS50 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS50 over the Olympus E-P2

 ZS50 E-P2 
RevealedJanuary 2015April 2010More recent by 57 months
Screen resolution1040k230kClearer screen (+810k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic ZS50

 E-P2 ZS50 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS50 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS50 size comparison

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

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS50 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS50 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic ZS50 Portrait photography factors
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
42
focusing manually
offers face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Street photography info
Panasonic ZS50 Street photography info
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no articulating screen
68
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than average in class (243 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Sports photography advice
Panasonic ZS50 Sports photography advice
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
max fps low (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
terrible battery (300 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
43
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking focus
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-P2
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS50
43
doesn't have Timelapse function
terrible battery (300 shots)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
66
lighter than average in class (243 grams)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZS50 Landscape photography advice
60
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
terrible battery (300 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
51
focusing manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS50 as a Vlogging camera
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone support
34
reasonably wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average in class (243 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have mic socket
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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic ZS50
 Olympus PEN E-P2Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-P2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ70
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-04-22 2015-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 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
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
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, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355 gr (0.78 lbs) 243 gr (0.54 lbs)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 111 x 65 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 44
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 20.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 11.2
DXO Low light rating 505 138
Other
Battery life 300 photos 300 photos
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
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $799 $350