Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic TS1

Below, we are analyzing the Olympus E-PM2 versus Panasonic TS1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Waterproof by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the E-PM2 (16MP) and TS1 (12MP) and the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and TS1 (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The E-PM2 was manufactured 4 years after the TS1 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic TS1 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a in depth comparison, below is a short summation of how the E-PM2 grades against the TS1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PM2 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1. The entire galleries are available at Olympus E-PM2 Gallery & Panasonic TS1 Gallery.

In case you're planning to carry around your camera, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PM2 has physical measurements 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 Panasonic TS1 has measurements of 98mm x 63mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 0.9") with a weight of 189 grams (0.42 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PM2 versus Panasonic TS1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you select at that time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-PM2 vs the TS1.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-PM2 and TS1 is 89 and 93 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's tough to picture the gap in sensor sizes just by checking out technical specs. The pic below may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM2 and TS1.

As you can tell, the two cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PM2 featuring a larger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-PM2 will produce extra detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The fresher E-PM2 provides an advantage with regard to sensor technology.