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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FZ200

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 front
Portability
65
Imaging
36
Features
64
Overall
47

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FZ200 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
  • Launched February 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL3
Panasonic FZ200
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8) lens
  • 588g - 125 x 87 x 110mm
  • Launched July 2012
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic FZ100
  • Newer Model is Panasonic FZ300
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FZ200 Overview

On this page, we are looking at the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic FZ200, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the FZ200 (12MP) is very close but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and FZ200 (1/2.3") provide different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL2 was introduced 17 months before the FZ200 making them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ200 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going into a full comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the E-PL2 scores versus the FZ200 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Panasonic FZ200

 E-PL2 FZ200 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ200 over the Olympus E-PL2

 FZ200 E-PL2 
LaunchedJuly 2012February 2011More recent by 17 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic FZ200

 E-PL2 FZ200 
Focus manually More exact focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Display resolution460k460kThe same display resolution
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FZ200 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you will have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL2 enjoys physical dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FZ200 has sizing of 125mm x 87mm x 110mm (4.9" x 3.4" x 4.3") and a weight of 588 grams (1.30 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic FZ200 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PL2 and the FZ200.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FZ200 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL2 and FZ200 is 85 and 65 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FZ200 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FZ200 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very hard to picture the contrast in sensor measurements just by viewing technical specs. The graphic below might give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL2 and FZ200.

As you have seen, each of the cameras have the same MP but different sensor measurements. The E-PL2 comes with the larger sensor which will make getting shallow depth of field easier. The older E-PL2 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FZ200 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FZ200 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FZ200 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography features
Panasonic FZ200 Portrait photography features
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
saves RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
48
focusing manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/4,000s)
comes with face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography info
Panasonic FZ200 Street photography info
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no moving screen
57
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition in class (588g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography advice
Panasonic FZ200 Sports photography advice
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
low frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
low battery (280 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
46
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking focus
great battery (540 shots)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography factors
Panasonic FZ200 Travel photography factors
51
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
low battery (280 shots)
MP count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
55
great battery (540 shots)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
rather wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
no Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (588g)
low MP (12MP)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FZ200 as a Landscape photography camera
61
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
low battery (280 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse mode
48
focusing manually
rather wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
great battery (540 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
low MP (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging features
Panasonic FZ200 Vlogging features
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic support
63
rather wide (25mm)
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has microphone support
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
more heavy than competition in class (588 grams)
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FZ200 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic FZ200
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-02-11 2012-07-18
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic V Venus Engine VII FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8
Macro focus range - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating Free-Angle TFT Screen LCD Display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,312 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m 13.50 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
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (240, 120, 30, 25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 362 grams (0.80 lbs) 588 grams (1.30 lbs)
Physical dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 125 x 87 x 110mm (4.9" x 3.4" x 4.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 37
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 19.1
DXO Dynamic range score 10.2 10.8
DXO Low light score 573 114
Other
Battery life 280 images 540 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $0 $499