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Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic S2

Portability
85
Imaging
53
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-P5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic S2 Key Specs

Olympus E-P5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 420g - 122 x 69 x 37mm
  • Revealed October 2013
  • Replaced the Olympus E-P3
Panasonic S2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 112g - 98 x 57 x 21mm
  • Announced January 2012
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Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic S2 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Olympus E-P5 and Panasonic S2, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-P5 (16MP) and the S2 (14MP) is very close but the E-P5 (Four Thirds) and S2 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-P5 was announced 22 months later than the S2 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S2 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-P5 matches up against the S2 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P5 over the Panasonic S2

 E-P5 S2 
AnnouncedOctober 2013January 2012Fresher by 22 months
Focus manually More exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1037k230kCrisper display (+807k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic S2 over the Olympus E-P5

 S2 E-P5 

Common features in the Olympus E-P5 and Panasonic S2

 E-P5 S2 
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic S2 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry your camera often, you need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P5 has got exterior dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") with a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs) while the Panasonic S2 has proportions of 98mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 112 grams (0.25 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-P5 and Panasonic S2 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the E-P5 versus the S2.

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic S2 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-P5 and S2 is 85 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic S2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic S2 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's tough to envision the gap in sensor sizing merely by researching specs. The graphic underneath should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P5 and S2.

All in all, both the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-P5 having a larger sensor will make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Olympus E-P5 will provide you with greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics far more aggressively. The newer E-P5 will have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic S2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic S2 Portrait photography advice
71
focusing manually
high flash sync speed (1/320 seconds)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
34
megapixel count decent (14MP)
offers face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P5 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic S2 as a Street photography camera
78
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
includes touch to focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
more heavy than competition in class (420 grams)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (112 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P5 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic S2 as a Sports photography camera
68
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
good battery power (280 shots)
max frames per second low (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Travel photography details
Panasonic S2 Travel photography details
68
includes touch to focus
good resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
more heavy than competition in class (420g)
display isn't selfie friendly
71
good battery power (280 per charge)
lighter than competition (112 grams)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Landscape photography information
Panasonic S2 Landscape photography information
79
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
41
pretty wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
good battery power (280 CIPA)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Vlogging features
Panasonic S2 Vlogging features
33
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone port
more heavy than competition in class (420g)
33
pretty wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
lighter than competition (112 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone socket
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Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P5 and Panasonic S2
 Olympus PEN E-P5Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-P5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-10-03 2012-01-09
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
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 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 1,037k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech 3:2 LCD capacitive touchscreen TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 9.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (ISO 100) 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (1st or 2nd curtain), Manual (1/1 - 1/64) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/320 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 420 grams (0.93 lb) 112 grams (0.25 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") 98 x 57 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 895 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 shots 280 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $389 $109