Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS50

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.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PM2 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-PM2 Gallery & Panasonic ZS50 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.