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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ7

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 front
Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
41
Overall
38

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ7 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
  • Released February 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL3
Panasonic SZ7
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 133g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Launched January 2012
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ7 Overview

Let's look much closer at the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic SZ7, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the SZ7 (14MP) is relatively well matched but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and SZ7 (1/2.3") offer different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL2 was manufactured 11 months before the SZ7 and they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ7 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple summary of how the E-PL2 scores against the SZ7 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Panasonic SZ7

 E-PL2 SZ7 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ7 over the Olympus E-PL2

 SZ7 E-PL2 
LaunchedJanuary 2012February 2011More recent by 11 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic SZ7

 E-PL2 SZ7 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Screen resolution460k460kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ7 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to lug around your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL2 features exterior dimensions 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 SZ7 has dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic SZ7 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL2 compared to the SZ7.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ7 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL2 and SZ7 is 85 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ7 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to picture the contrast between sensor measurements merely by checking technical specs. The visual underneath will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL2 and SZ7.

As you have seen, both of those cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PL2 because of its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Panasonic SZ7 will give you more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots way more aggressively. The older E-PL2 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic SZ7 as a Portrait photography camera
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
33
megapixel count good (14MP)
includes face detect focusing
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL2
Street photography with Panasonic SZ7
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (133 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography details
Panasonic SZ7 Sports photography details
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
max fps very slow (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery life (280 shots)
no phase detect AF
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography information
Panasonic SZ7 Travel photography information
51
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
terrible battery life (280 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
70
lighter than average (133g)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
does not have Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic SZ7 as a Landscape photography camera
61
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery life (280 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
42
quite wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging factors
Panasonic SZ7 Vlogging factors
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focusing
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone jack
35
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (133g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone support
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic SZ7
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-02-11 2012-01-09
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 4cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30fps), 640 x 480 (30 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 362 gr (0.80 pounds) 133 gr (0.29 pounds)
Physical dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 280 shots 220 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $0 $199