Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic S2

Following is a extensive analysis of the Olympus E-PL9 versus Panasonic S2, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the S2 (14MP) is very well matched but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and S2 (1/2.3") boast different sensor size.

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The E-PL9 was released 6 years after the S2 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S2 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a detailed comparison, here is a short introduction of how the E-PL9 grades versus the S2 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PL9 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL9 Gallery and Panasonic S2 Gallery.

If you're planning to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL9 has external measurements of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") and a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) and the Panasonic S2 has measurements of 98mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") and a weight of 112 grams (0.25 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL9 versus Panasonic S2 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the E-PL9 compared to the S2.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL9 and S2 is 85 and 96 respectively.

Sometimes, it is very hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizes merely by checking technical specs. The pic underneath will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL9 and S2.

As you have seen, each of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PL9 due to its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-PL9 will give more detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The newer E-PL9 should have an advantage in sensor tech.