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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS50

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 front
Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS50 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
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PM1
Panasonic ZS50
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 243g - 111 x 65 x 34mm
  • Revealed January 2015
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ70
  • Previous Model is Panasonic ZS45
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS60
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS50 Overview

The following is a thorough comparison of the Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS50, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a noticeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-PM2 (16MP) and ZS50 (12MP) and the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and ZS50 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PM2 was launched 19 months earlier than the ZS50 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS50 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-PM2 matches up against the ZS50 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Panasonic ZS50

 E-PM2 ZS50 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS50 over the Olympus E-PM2

 ZS50 E-PM2 
RevealedJanuary 2015May 2013Newer by 19 months
Screen resolution1040k460kSharper screen (+580k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic ZS50

 E-PM2 ZS50 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS50 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PM2 features physical dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS50 has dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS50 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-PM2 versus the ZS50.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS50 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM2 and ZS50 is 89 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS50 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by reviewing specifications. The pic here will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM2 and ZS50.

Plainly, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PM2 because of its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF easier and the Olympus E-PM2 will deliver more detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged E-PM2 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS50 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PM2
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS50
71
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
42
has manual focus
has face detect focusing
exports RAW files
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PM2
Street photography with Panasonic ZS50
79
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
offers touch to focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
fixed screen
68
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
lighter than average in class (243g)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography factors
Panasonic ZS50 Sports photography factors
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
no phase detect autofocus
43
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking focus
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS50 as a Travel photography camera
66
offers touch to focus
good MP (16MP)
does not have Timelapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
66
lighter than average in class (243 grams)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZS50 Landscape photography advice
74
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
does not have Timelapse recording
51
has manual focus
really wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic ZS50 Vlogging highlights
36
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have microphone socket
34
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (243 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
does not have microphone port
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic ZS50
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ70
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-05-21 2015-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
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 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dot 1,040k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269g (0.59 lb) 243g (0.54 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 111 x 65 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 44
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 20.0
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 11.2
DXO Low light score 932 138
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 300 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $448 $350