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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FZ200

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 front
Portability
65
Imaging
36
Features
64
Overall
47

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FZ200 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
  • Introduced May 2013
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PM1
Panasonic FZ200
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8) lens
  • 588g - 125 x 87 x 110mm
  • Launched July 2012
  • Old Model is Panasonic FZ100
  • Later Model is Panasonic FZ300
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FZ200 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic FZ200, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the E-PM2 (16MP) and FZ200 (12MP) and the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and FZ200 (1/2.3") provide different sensor sizing.

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The E-PM2 was released 11 months after the FZ200 so they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ200 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going into a complete comparison, here is a concise summary of how the E-PM2 scores vs the FZ200 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Panasonic FZ200

 E-PM2 FZ200 
LaunchedMay 2013July 2012More modern by 11 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ200 over the Olympus E-PM2

 FZ200 E-PM2 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic FZ200

 E-PM2 FZ200 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Screen resolution460k460kThe same screen resolution

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FZ200 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera often, you need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-PM2 provides outside dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FZ200 has specifications of 125mm x 87mm x 110mm (4.9" x 3.4" x 4.3") accompanied by a weight of 588 grams (1.30 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic FZ200 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you use during that time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the E-PM2 against the FZ200.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FZ200 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-PM2 and FZ200 is 89 and 65 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FZ200 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FZ200 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its tough to picture the difference between sensor sizes simply by going over technical specs. The image below may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM2 and FZ200.

As you have seen, both cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PM2 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Olympus E-PM2 will deliver extra detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots more aggressively. The more modern E-PM2 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FZ200 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FZ200 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FZ200 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PM2
Portrait photography with Panasonic FZ200
71
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
48
you can focus manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/4,000s)
has face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography factors
Panasonic FZ200 Street photography factors
79
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
offers focus by touch
great ISO range (25,600)
screen is fixed
57
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
small sensor (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition in class (588 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FZ200 as a Sports photography camera
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect autofocus
46
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking autofocus
good battery (540 shots)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography info
Panasonic FZ200 Travel photography info
66
offers focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
missing Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
55
good battery (540 CIPA)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
really wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition in class (588g)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic FZ200 Landscape photography advice
74
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
missing Timelapse mode
48
you can focus manually
really wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
good battery (540 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FZ200 as a Vlogging camera
36
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone support
63
really wide (25mm)
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external microphone socket
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
more heavy than competition in class (588g)
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FZ200 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic FZ200
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2013-05-21 2012-07-18
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine VII FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
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 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech - Free-Angle TFT Screen LCD Display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,312k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 13.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250s 1/4000s
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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (240, 120, 30, 25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269g (0.59 pounds) 588g (1.30 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 125 x 87 x 110mm (4.9" x 3.4" x 4.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 72 37
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 19.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 10.8
DXO Low light rating 932 114
Other
Battery life 360 images 540 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch price $448 $499