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Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic S2

Portability
88
Imaging
53
Features
77
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL6 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
29
Overall
33

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic S2 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Released August 2014
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL7
Panasonic S2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 112g - 98 x 57 x 21mm
  • Revealed January 2012
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic S2 Overview

On this page, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-PL6 and Panasonic S2, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL6 (16MP) and the S2 (14MP) is relatively close but the E-PL6 (Four Thirds) and S2 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL6 was launched 2 years after the S2 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S2 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-PL6 grades against the S2 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL6 over the Panasonic S2

 E-PL6 S2 
RevealedAugust 2014January 2012Newer by 32 months
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic S2 over the Olympus E-PL6

 S2 E-PL6 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL6 and Panasonic S2

 E-PL6 S2 

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic S2 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera, you're going to have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL6 offers exterior measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) and the Panasonic S2 has sizing of 98mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") along with a weight of 112 grams (0.25 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL6 and Panasonic S2 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select during that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL6 vs the S2.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic S2 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL6 and S2 is 88 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic S2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic S2 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions just by researching specifications. The pic underneath will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL6 and S2.

To sum up, both cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL6 due to its bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh simpler and the Olympus E-PL6 will render greater detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures more aggressively. The newer E-PL6 is going to have a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic S2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic S2 Portrait photography factors
71
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
33
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
provides face detection focusing
no manual focus
no manual mode
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic S2 as a Street photography camera
85
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
offers touch focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (112 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL6
Sports photography with Panasonic S2
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
lack of phase detect auto focus
39
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
great battery life (280 CIPA)
max frames per second low (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Travel photography info
Panasonic S2 Travel photography info
85
offers touch focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
70
great battery life (280 per charge)
lighter than competitors (112 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
no Timelapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic S2 Landscape photography advice
80
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
41
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
great battery life (280 CIPA)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Vlogging info
Panasonic S2 Vlogging info
79
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have microphone port
32
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
lighter than competitors (112 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone support
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL6 and Panasonic S2
 Olympus PEN E-PL6Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL6 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2014-08-01 2012-01-09
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI -
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 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus range - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 8s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 3.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 325g (0.72 lbs) 112g (0.25 lbs)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 98 x 57 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photos 280 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch price $300 $109