Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic S2

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.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-P5 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-P5 Gallery & Panasonic S2 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.