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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ10

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10 front
Portability
93
Imaging
40
Features
34
Overall
37

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ10 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
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL3
Panasonic SZ10
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 177g - 99 x 60 x 30mm
  • Introduced January 2015
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ10 Overview

In this article, we will be matching up the Olympus E-PL2 versus Panasonic SZ10, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and SZ10 (16MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and SZ10 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL2 was launched 4 years earlier than the SZ10 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ10 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a full comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-PL2 scores against the SZ10 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Panasonic SZ10

 E-PL2 SZ10 
Manually focus Very precise focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ10 over the Olympus E-PL2

 SZ10 E-PL2 
IntroducedJanuary 2015February 2011More recent by 47 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic SZ10

 E-PL2 SZ10 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Screen resolution460k460kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ10 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL2 enjoys physical measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ10 has dimensions of 99mm x 60mm x 30mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.2") along with a weight of 177 grams (0.39 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL2 versus Panasonic SZ10 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PL2 against the SZ10.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ10 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL2 and SZ10 is 85 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ10 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ10 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to imagine the gap in sensor measurements purely by going through technical specs. The graphic underneath may give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL2 and SZ10.

As you can tell, both of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL2 because of its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic SZ10 will produce extra detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older E-PL2 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ10 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ10 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL2
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ10
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focusing
exports RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
35
megapixel count good (16MP)
features face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography advice
Panasonic SZ10 Street photography advice
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
70
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (177 grams)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic SZ10 Sports photography highlights
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 fps)
low megapixels (12MP)
low battery power (280 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.4 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (200 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic SZ10 Travel photography highlights
51
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
low battery power (280 shots)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
67
lighter than competition in class (177g)
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
very long zoom (288mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (200 CIPA)
does not feature selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic SZ10 Landscape photography advice
61
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
low battery power (280 shots)
does not have Timelapse recording
41
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
not so great battery life (200 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic SZ10 Vlogging highlights
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone socket
32
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
lighter than competition in class (177g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
does not feature selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic port
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic SZ10
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-02-11 2015-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
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 surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-288mm (12.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.1-6.3
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 1.4 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m 5.20 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, slow sync w/redeye, off
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 362g (0.80 pounds) 177g (0.39 pounds)
Dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 99 x 60 x 30mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.2")
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 photos 200 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $0 $200