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Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic S2

Portability
86
Imaging
53
Features
81
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL7 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
29
Overall
33

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic S2 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Released September 2014
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL6
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL8
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
  • Introduced January 2012
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic S2 Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic S2, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL7 (16MP) and the S2 (14MP) is relatively similar but the E-PL7 (Four Thirds) and S2 (1/2.3") use different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL7 was released 2 years after the S2 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S2 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a complete comparison, below is a quick summary of how the E-PL7 grades vs the S2 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL7 over the Panasonic S2

 E-PL7 S2 
IntroducedSeptember 2014January 2012More modern by 33 months
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1037k230kCrisper screen (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic S2 over the Olympus E-PL7

 S2 E-PL7 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL7 and Panasonic S2

 E-PL7 S2 

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic S2 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL7 has exterior dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") with a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) whilst the Panasonic S2 has sizing of 98mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") and a weight of 112 grams (0.25 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic S2 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select at the time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the E-PL7 and the S2.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic S2 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL7 and S2 is 86 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic S2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic S2 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be tough to picture the gap between sensor sizes only by reading specifications. The image underneath may give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL7 and S2.

Plainly, each of the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PL7 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-PL7 will offer you more detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots much more aggressively. The fresher E-PL7 should have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic S2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL7
Portrait photography with Panasonic S2
71
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
supports RAW formats
33
good MP (14 megapixels)
provides face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL7
Street photography with Panasonic S2
84
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
offers touch to focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (112g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic S2 as a Sports photography camera
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
39
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
better than average battery power (280 per charge)
max fps very slow (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Travel photography advice
Panasonic S2 Travel photography advice
85
offers touch to focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
70
better than average battery power (280 CIPA)
lighter than competition (112g)
good MP (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic S2 Landscape photography advice
79
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
41
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
better than average battery power (280 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual control
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Vlogging advice
Panasonic S2 Vlogging advice
78
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
no external mic socket
32
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (112 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL7 and Panasonic S2
 Olympus PEN E-PL7Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL7 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2014-09-01 2012-01-09
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
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 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 8.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.30 m
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 357 grams (0.79 lb) 112 grams (0.25 lb)
Dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 98 x 57 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 873 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 280 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $499 $109