Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic TS2

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Olympus E-PL1 versus Panasonic TS2, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Waterproof by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the TS2 (14MP) is pretty well matched but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and TS2 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL1 was revealed 4 months after the TS2 and they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic TS2 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-PL1 grades against the TS2 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN E-PL1 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2. The full galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL1 Gallery and Panasonic TS2 Gallery.

If you're planning to carry around your camera, you'll need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL1 has got exterior measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Panasonic TS2 has sizing of 99mm x 63mm x 24mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 0.9") and a weight of 188 grams (0.41 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL1 versus Panasonic TS2 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have at that moment. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the E-PL1 and the TS2.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and TS2 is 86 and 93 respectively.

Often, its tough to visualise the difference between sensor sizes simply by reading through technical specs. The pic below will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1 and TS2.

As you can tell, both of those cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL1 with its bigger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field simpler and the Panasonic TS2 will give you more detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots a bit more aggressively.