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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic LZ20

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 front
Portability
71
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic LZ20 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1s
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Announced November 2010
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL1
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic LZ20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-525mm (F3.1-5.8) lens
  • 499g - 120 x 76 x 80mm
  • Announced July 2012
  • Replacement is Panasonic LZ30
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic LZ20 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Olympus E-PL1s versus Panasonic LZ20, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL1s (12MP) and LZ20 (16MP) and the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and LZ20 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL1s was revealed 20 months before the LZ20 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LZ20 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the E-PL1s grades vs the LZ20 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Panasonic LZ20

 E-PL1s LZ20 
Manually focus More exact focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ20 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 LZ20 E-PL1s 
AnnouncedJuly 2012November 2010Newer by 20 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic LZ20

 E-PL1s LZ20 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic LZ20 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL1s features external measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Panasonic LZ20 has measurements of 120mm x 76mm x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1") having a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL1s versus Panasonic LZ20 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the E-PL1s compared to the LZ20.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic LZ20 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1s and LZ20 is 86 and 71 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic LZ20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic LZ20 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to envision the difference between sensor dimensions merely by reading specifications. The image underneath will provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL1s and LZ20.

To sum up, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1s using its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Panasonic LZ20 will offer greater detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots far more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1s is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic LZ20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Portrait photography information
Panasonic LZ20 Portrait photography information
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
36
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
supports face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Street photography highlights
Panasonic LZ20 Street photography highlights
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
fixed screen
45
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
heavier than average (499g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Sports photography highlights
Panasonic LZ20 Sports photography highlights
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12MP)
low battery pack (290 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
47
excellent zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
better than average battery (380 per charge)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Travel photography information
Panasonic LZ20 Travel photography information
51
built-in flash
no Time Lapse function
low battery pack (290 shots)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
58
better than average battery (380 CIPA)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
very long zoom (525mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
heavier than average (499g)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography information
Panasonic LZ20 Landscape photography information
55
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
megapixel count low (12MP)
low battery pack (290 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
45
pretty wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
better than average battery (380 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL1s
Vlogging with Panasonic LZ20
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic support
25
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic port
heavier than average (499g)
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic LZ20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic LZ20
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sPanasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1s Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2010-11-16 2012-07-18
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-525mm (21.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-5.8
Macro focus distance - 2cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 15s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m 6.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720p ( 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334g (0.74 lbs) 499g (1.10 lbs)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 120 x 76 x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 290 shots 380 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch price $599 $250