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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-10

Portability
89
Imaging
53
Features
63
Overall
57
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Olympus SZ-10 front
Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-10 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Released May 2013
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PM1
Olympus SZ-10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-504mm (F3.1-4.4) lens
  • 215g - 106 x 67 x 38mm
  • Launched February 2011
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-10 Overview

In this write-up, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-PM2 versus Olympus SZ-10, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are created by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the SZ-10 (14MP) is pretty well matched but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and SZ-10 (1/2.3") use different sensor sizing.

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The E-PM2 was introduced 2 years later than the SZ-10 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-10 being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a full comparison, below is a short overview of how the E-PM2 matches up vs the SZ-10 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Olympus SZ-10

 E-PM2 SZ-10 
LaunchedMay 2013February 2011More recent by 28 months
Manual focus More accurate focus
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-10 over the Olympus E-PM2

 SZ-10 E-PM2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Olympus SZ-10

 E-PM2 SZ-10 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Screen resolution460k460kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-10 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM2 comes with outer dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Olympus SZ-10 has proportions of 106mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PM2 versus Olympus SZ-10 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have at the time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the E-PM2 against the SZ-10.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-10 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM2 and SZ-10 is 89 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-10 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-10 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to imagine the difference between sensor measurements purely by checking specs. The graphic underneath should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM2 and SZ-10.

As you can plainly see, both cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PM2 using its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-PM2 will give extra detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots far more aggressively. The younger E-PM2 should have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-10 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-10 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography features
Olympus SZ-10 Portrait photography features
71
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
supports RAW files
33
MP count decent (14MP)
provides face detect focusing
no manual focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PM2
Street photography with Olympus SZ-10
79
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
comes with focus by touch
great ISO range (25,600)
fixed screen
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (215 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus SZ-10 as a Sports photography camera
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect auto focus
40
great zoom range (28-504mm 18.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14MP)
provides tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery (220 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography information
Olympus SZ-10 Travel photography information
66
comes with focus by touch
megapixel count good (16MP)
no Timelapse function
does not offer selfie friendly display
65
lighter than others (215 grams)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
long reach (504mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
bad battery (220 shots)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.1)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus SZ-10 Landscape photography highlights
74
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
no Timelapse function
40
really wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
bad battery (220 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging factors
Olympus SZ-10 Vlogging factors
36
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not offer selfie friendly display
no external microphone support
31
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focusing
lighter than others (215g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic socket
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Olympus SZ-10
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Olympus SZ-10
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM2 Olympus SZ-10
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2013-05-21 2011-02-08
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - TruePic III+
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 25600 1600
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-504mm (18.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-4.4
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 7.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269 grams (0.59 lbs) 215 grams (0.47 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 106 x 67 x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 932 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 220 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $448 $300