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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-11

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Olympus SZ-11 front
Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-11 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
  • Revealed May 2013
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PM1
Olympus SZ-11
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Introduced July 2011
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-11 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus E-PM2 versus Olympus SZ-11, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are designed by Olympus. The resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the SZ-11 (14MP) is pretty well matched but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and SZ-11 (1/2.3") posses different sensor sizing.

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The E-PM2 was brought out 23 months after the SZ-11 which makes them a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-11 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a complete comparison, here is a short highlight of how the E-PM2 matches up vs the SZ-11 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Olympus SZ-11

 E-PM2 SZ-11 
IntroducedMay 2013July 2011Newer by 23 months
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-11 over the Olympus E-PM2

 SZ-11 E-PM2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Olympus SZ-11

 E-PM2 SZ-11 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Screen resolution460k460kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-11 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera, you will want to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-PM2 provides external 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) whilst the Olympus SZ-11 has specifications of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PM2 versus Olympus SZ-11 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the E-PM2 vs the SZ-11.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-11 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PM2 and SZ-11 is 89 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-11 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-11 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to picture the difference between sensor dimensions merely by looking at technical specs. The image here might provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM2 and SZ-11.

As you have seen, both the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PM2 due to its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-PM2 will give you extra detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The younger E-PM2 provides a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-11 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-11 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-11 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography features
Olympus SZ-11 Portrait photography features
71
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
33
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
comes with face detection focusing
no manual focus
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography factors
Olympus SZ-11 Street photography factors
79
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
boasts focus by touch
great ISO range (25,600)
no moving screen
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (226g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography advice
Olympus SZ-11 Sports photography advice
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect AF
43
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
low battery (200 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SZ-11 as a Travel photography camera
66
boasts focus by touch
good megapixels (16MP)
no Timelapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly display
65
lighter than average (226g)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
low battery (200 shots)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography information
Olympus SZ-11 Landscape photography information
74
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
no Timelapse recording
40
pretty wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
no manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
low battery (200 shots)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PM2
Vlogging with Olympus SZ-11
36
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not offer selfie friendly display
no external microphone support
31
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focusing
lighter than average (226g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone jack
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-11 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Olympus SZ-11
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Olympus SZ-11
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Olympus SZ-11
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-05-21 2011-07-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - TruePic III+
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 25600 1600
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 35 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 9.30 m (@ ISO 1600)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 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 file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269 grams (0.59 lb) 226 grams (0.50 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 932 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 shots 200 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $448 $253