Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS20

On this page, we will be looking at the Olympus E-PM2 versus Panasonic ZS20, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is relatively close but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and ZS20 (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The E-PM2 was unveiled 13 months later than the ZS20 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a complete comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-PM2 matches up vs the ZS20 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PM2 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-PM2 Gallery & Panasonic ZS20 Gallery.

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera often, you have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM2 offers exterior measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS20 has proportions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PM2 versus Panasonic ZS20 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached at that time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the E-PM2 vs the ZS20.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM2 and ZS20 is 89 and 92 respectively.

Quite often, it is very tough to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements purely by researching specifications. The visual below will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM2 and ZS20.

To sum up, the two cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PM2 having a bigger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh simpler and the Olympus E-PM2 will render more detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more modern E-PM2 provides a benefit in sensor tech.