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Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL3
Olympus SZ-16 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Revealed January 2013
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Overview

Here, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are designed by Olympus. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and SZ-16 iHS (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL2 was brought out 23 months prior to the SZ-16 iHS which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-16 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a detailed comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the E-PL2 matches up vs the SZ-16 iHS with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 E-PL2 SZ-16 iHS 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Olympus E-PL2

 SZ-16 iHS E-PL2 
RevealedJanuary 2013February 2011Fresher by 23 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 E-PL2 SZ-16 iHS 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Screen resolution460k460kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera, you will need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL2 has physical measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) whilst the Olympus SZ-16 iHS has sizing of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the E-PL2 versus the SZ-16 iHS.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL2 and SZ-16 iHS is 85 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to envision the contrast in sensor sizing simply by looking through a spec sheet. The photograph below will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL2 and SZ-16 iHS.

Clearly, the two cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PL2 because of its bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF easier and the Olympus SZ-16 iHS will render greater detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The older E-PL2 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
resolution not great (12MP)
35
decent MP (16MP)
includes face detect focus
no manual focus
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Street photography camera
Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Street photography camera
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen does not articulate
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography features
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sports photography features
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (12MP)
low battery (280 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
42
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
max frames per second low (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
low battery pack (220 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography highlights
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Travel photography highlights
51
flash built-in
missing Timelapse recording
low battery (280 per charge)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
65
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
missing Time Lapse function
low battery pack (220 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Landscape photography highlights
61
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
resolution not great (12MP)
low battery (280 CIPA)
missing Timelapse recording
41
really wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
no manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
low battery pack (220 per charge)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging factors
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Vlogging factors
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone port
31
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect focus
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic port
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Olympus SZ-16 iHS
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Olympus SZ-16 iHS
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-02-11 2013-01-08
Body design 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 area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
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 362 grams (0.80 pounds) 226 grams (0.50 pounds)
Physical dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 280 pictures 220 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $0 $230