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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic XS1

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1 front
Portability
97
Imaging
40
Features
26
Overall
34

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic XS1 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
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Updated by Olympus E-PL3
Panasonic XS1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 103g - 94 x 54 x 14mm
  • Launched January 2013
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic XS1 Overview

Here, we are comparing the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic XS1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and XS1 (16MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and XS1 (1/2.3") boast different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL2 was brought out 23 months earlier than the XS1 making them a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic XS1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a complete comparison, here is a brief overview of how the E-PL2 scores against the XS1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Panasonic XS1

 E-PL2 XS1 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic XS1 over the Olympus E-PL2

 XS1 E-PL2 
LaunchedJanuary 2013February 2011Newer by 23 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic XS1

 E-PL2 XS1 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic XS1 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL2 offers exterior dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) whilst the Panasonic XS1 has dimensions of 94mm x 54mm x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6") accompanied by a weight of 103 grams (0.23 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic XS1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL2 versus the XS1.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic XS1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL2 and XS1 is 85 and 97 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic XS1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic XS1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its tough to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by reviewing technical specs. The pic underneath may provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL2 and XS1.

As you can tell, both of those cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL2 because of its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Panasonic XS1 will offer you extra detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-PL2 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic XS1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic XS1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic XS1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic XS1 as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
30
good resolution (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic XS1 as a Street photography camera
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (103 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic XS1 as a Sports photography camera
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery (280 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
41
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic XS1 as a Travel photography camera
51
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
bad battery (280 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than competition in class (103g)
good resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
does not have selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic XS1 Landscape photography highlights
61
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery (280 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
39
relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging information
Panasonic XS1 Vlogging information
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic port
31
relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (103g)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone jack
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic XS1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic XS1
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-02-11 2013-01-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-6.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m 4.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160s -
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 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 362g (0.80 lbs) 103g (0.23 lbs)
Physical dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 94 x 54 x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6")
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 260 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Price at release $0 $130