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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FS12

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
14
Overall
26

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FS12 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Launched February 2011
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL3
Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-124mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 55 x 22mm
  • Announced April 2009
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FS12 Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic FS12, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Ultracompact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the FS12 (12MP) is relatively well matched but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and FS12 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL2 was unveiled 23 months later than the FS12 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving straight into a complete comparison, below is a simple summary of how the E-PL2 grades vs the FS12 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Panasonic FS12

 E-PL2 FS12 
AnnouncedFebruary 2011April 2009Fresher by 23 months
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Olympus E-PL2

 FS12 E-PL2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic FS12

 E-PL2 FS12 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FS12 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL2 features outer 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 Panasonic FS12 has sizing of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic FS12 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-PL2 versus the FS12.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FS12 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL2 and FS12 is 85 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FS12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FS12 Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to envision the contrast between sensor sizing just by reading through specs. The graphic below will help give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL2 and FS12.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras posses the exact same resolution albeit not the same sensor sizing. The E-PL2 uses the bigger sensor which will make achieving bokeh simpler. The newer E-PL2 will have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FS12 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography details
Panasonic FS12 Portrait photography details
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
saves RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
20
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography advice
Panasonic FS12 Street photography advice
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
56
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography details
Panasonic FS12 Sports photography details
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
low battery (280 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
25
image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Travel photography camera
51
has built in flash
missing Timelapse function
low battery (280 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
51
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (31mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography details
Panasonic FS12 Landscape photography details
61
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
low battery (280 shots)
missing Timelapse function
27
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (31mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
lack of manual mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL2
Vlogging with Panasonic FS12
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone socket
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (31mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have mic support
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FS12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic FS12
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Launched 2011-02-11 2009-04-17
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 1600
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 31-124mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m 6.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 362 grams (0.80 lbs) 129 grams (0.28 lbs)
Dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $0 $228