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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus XZ-1

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Olympus XZ-1 front
Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
51
Overall
41

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus XZ-1 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
  • Launched May 2013
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PM1
Olympus XZ-1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 275g - 111 x 65 x 42mm
  • Announced January 2011
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus XZ-1 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-PM2 versus Olympus XZ-1, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are sold by Olympus. There exists a sizeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-PM2 (16MP) and XZ-1 (10MP) and the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and XZ-1 (1/1.63") enjoy different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PM2 was released 2 years after the XZ-1 which is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus XZ-1 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a detailed comparison, below is a short introduction of how the E-PM2 grades against the XZ-1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Olympus XZ-1

 E-PM2 XZ-1 
AnnouncedMay 2013January 2011Newer by 29 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-1 over the Olympus E-PM2

 XZ-1 E-PM2 
Screen resolution614k460kSharper screen (+154k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Olympus XZ-1

 E-PM2 XZ-1 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus XZ-1 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PM2 has got 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) and the Olympus XZ-1 has sizing of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") with a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PM2 versus Olympus XZ-1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-PM2 against the XZ-1.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus XZ-1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM2 and XZ-1 is 89 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus XZ-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus XZ-1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is hard to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The picture underneath should offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PM2 and XZ-1.

Clearly, both of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PM2 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-PM2 will offer greater detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots a little more aggressively. The fresher E-PM2 provides an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus XZ-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus XZ-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus XZ-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PM2
Portrait photography with Olympus XZ-1
71
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detect focusing
saves RAW files
45
manual focus
supports face detect focus
exports RAW files
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.63")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography advice
Olympus XZ-1 Street photography advice
79
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
supports touch to focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
screen does not articulate
59
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/1.63")
more heavy than average in class (275g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography advice
Olympus XZ-1 Sports photography advice
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect AF
38
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking focus
great battery power (320 shots)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.63")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography advice
Olympus XZ-1 Travel photography advice
66
supports touch to focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
62
great battery power (320 CIPA)
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than average in class (275 grams)
low megapixels (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus XZ-1 Landscape photography highlights
74
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
54
manual focus
really wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW files
great battery power (320 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.63")
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging features
Olympus XZ-1 Vlogging features
36
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
lack of mic socket
31
really wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focus
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone socket
more heavy than average in class (275 grams)
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus XZ-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Olympus XZ-1
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Olympus XZ-1
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Olympus XZ-1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2013-05-21 2011-01-26
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - TruePic V
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.63"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 8.07 x 5.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 44.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 3664 x 2752
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus range - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 4.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dots 614k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - OLED
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 8.60 m (ISO 800)
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
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269 grams (0.59 pounds) 275 grams (0.61 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 111 x 65 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 34
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 18.8
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 10.4
DXO Low light score 932 117
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 320 pictures
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
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $448 $567