Canon Rebel
T2i
 vs
Olympus
PEN E-P2

Updated (June, 2011): Compare the Canon Rebel T3i vs Olympus PEN E-P3

Canon EOS Rebel T2i

72
"Quite simply, taken as a whole, it is the best camera of its class that we've ever seen, and one of those rare cameras that won't look out of date in a couple of years' time."
dpreview.com | talking about the T2i's overall-performance
"High-spec video mode, including external microphone jack"
dpreview.com | talking about the T2i's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T2i

Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
1,040k dots
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
External flash not needed
Olympus PEN E-P2

35
Runner-up

Olympus PEN E-P2

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-P2

Size
 Really small
Mid size 121x70x36 mm
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
 Thin
1.4"
Weight
 Light-weight
355 g
Longest exposure
 Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Canon T2i
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 More than 4.5x higher resolution screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Lens availability Much more lenses available 162 lenses vs 26 lenses
Help
 More than 6x more lenses available
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Overall image quality Better image quality 66.0 vs 56.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.5 EV vs 10.4 EV
Help
 1.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 22.1 bits vs 21.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The T2i's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentamirror vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 22.3x14.9mm vs Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm
Help
 Around 40% larger sensor
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 784 ISO vs 505 ISO
Help
 The T2i has a slight edge (0.6 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 3.7 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 More than 20% faster continuous shooting
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Learn more about
the Canon T2i

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-P2
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Size Significantly smaller 121x70x36 mm vs 129x98x62 mm
Help
 2.6x smaller
Thickness Thinner 1.4" vs 2.4"
Help
 More than 40% thinner
Weight Lighter 355 g vs 530 g
Help
 More than 30% lighter
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Olympus PEN E-P2 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-P2
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Canon Rebel T2i
72 vs 35
Explain scores
Olympus PEN E-P2 Olympus PEN E-P2
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS Rebel T2i. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Sensor size Large sensors Help
T2i:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
PEN E-P2:Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
T2i:CMOS
PEN E-P2:NMOS
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
T2i:30s
PEN E-P2:60s
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the PEN E-P2
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Light sensitivity Much higher maximum light sensitivity
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Rebel T2i
Compare the NEX-5N vs the PEN E-P2

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Size Larger
Startup delay More startup delay
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Rebel T2i
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Overall image quality Better image quality
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Size Larger
Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T2i
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Autofocus Video autofocus
Battery life Longer battery life
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D3100 vs the Rebel T2i
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens
Battery life Significantly longer battery life
Weight Lighter
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Rebel T2i
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Battery life Much longer battery life
Size Larger
Weight Heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Rebel T2i

Olympus PEN E-P2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$485 with 14-42mm lens
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Size Slightly larger
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the PEN E-PL2 vs the PEN E-P2
Olympus PEN E-P3

Olympus PEN E-P3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$849 - $900 with 17mm lens
Screen type Has an OLED screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the PEN E-P3 vs the PEN E-P2
Olympus PEN E-P1

Olympus PEN E-P1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$185 body only

$375 with 17mm lens
Lowest price Slightly cheaper
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the PEN E-P1 vs the PEN E-P2
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
3D Takes 3D photos
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the PEN E-P2
Olympus PEN E-PL1

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$260 - $279 with 14-42mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Compare the PEN E-PL1 vs the PEN E-P2

appearance

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Olympus PEN E-P2
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Olympus PEN E-P2
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Olympus PEN E-P2

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