Updated (June, 2011): Compare the Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3 vs Olympus PEN E-P1

Olympus PEN E-P1
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Olympus PEN E-P1

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vs
Olympus PEN E-PL2

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Olympus PEN E-PL2
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Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-P1

We are not aware of any reasons to consider buying the Olympus PEN E-P1 over the Olympus PEN E-PL2.
 

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-PL2

Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
434 ms shutter lag
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
External flash not needed
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-PL2

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Shutter lag
Much less shutter lag
434 ms vs 1187 ms
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2.7x less delay when taking photos
Panorama
Can create panoramas in-camera
Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Startup delay
Significantly less startup delay
1300 ms vs 2500 ms
Help
Around 50% less delay when turning on
Screen resolution
Higher resolution screen
460k dots vs 230k dots
Help
2x higher resolution screen
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
Olympus PEN E-PL2 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-PL2

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-P1

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Battery life
Slightly longer battery life
300 shots vs 280 shots
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Around 10% more shots per battery charge
Dynamic range
More dynamic range
10.4 EV vs 10.2 EV
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0.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Lowest price
Cheaper
$242.50 vs $560.33
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The best price we've seen is $318 cheaper (2.3x less)
Size
Slightly smaller
121x70x36 mm vs 115x72x42 mm
Help
More than 10% smaller
Thickness
Thinner
1.4" vs 1.7"
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More than 10% thinner
Olympus PEN E-P1 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-P1
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recommendations

Which camera do we recommend? Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Olympus PEN E-PL2 Olympus PEN E-PL2 42
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        42 Olympus PEN E-P1 Olympus PEN E-P1
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              similarities

              Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

              Common Strengths
              Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
              Sensor shift
              Lens availability Many lenses available Help
              40 lenses
              Longest exposure Long exposures Help
              60 seconds
              External flash Each supports an external flash Help
              Better lighting
              Common Weaknesses
              Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
              1/4000 of a second
              Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
              Lacks boost light sensitivity
              HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
              You could do HDR manually
              Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
              PEN E-PL2:434 ms
              PEN E-P1:1187 ms
              Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
              PEN E-PL2:10.2 EV
              PEN E-P1:10.4 EV
              Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
              Less flexible
              True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
              12.2 MP
              Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
              Missing that film look
              Touch screen No touchscreens Help
              More buttons
              Color depth Poor color depth Help
              21.4 bits
              Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
              PEN E-PL2:460k dots
              PEN E-P1:230k dots
              External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
              Limited to the in-camera mic
              Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
              Can only preview photos on the screen
              Overall image quality Low image quality Help
              55.0
              Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
              PEN E-PL2:280 shots
              PEN E-P1:300 shots
              3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
              No 3d support
              Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
              3 fps
              Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
              Need to shelter it from weather
              Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
              720p @ 30fps
              Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
              PEN E-PL2:573 ISO
              PEN E-P1:536 ISO

              dxomark

              DXOMark

              competitors

              Shared Competitors

              Advantages

              Disadvantages

              Olympus PEN E-PL1

              Olympus PEN E-PL1

              Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

              $440 with 14-42mm lens

              Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
              Shutter lag Has much more shutter lag
              Compare the PEN E-PL1 vs the PEN E-PL2
              Compare the PEN E-PL1 vs the PEN E-P1
              Olympus PEN E-P2

              Olympus PEN E-P2

              Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

              $289 body only

              $429 with 17mm lens

              Shutter lag Has much more shutter lag
              Startup delay Has significantly more startup delay
              Compare the PEN E-P2 vs the PEN E-PL2
              Compare the PEN E-P2 vs the PEN E-P1
              Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

              Olympus PEN E-PL3

              Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

              $270 with 14-42mm lens

              Movie format Records higher quality movies
              3D Captures 3D images
              Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
              Color depth Has slightly less color depth
              Compare the PEN E-PL3 vs the PEN E-PL2
              Compare the PEN E-PL3 vs the PEN E-P1
              Olympus PEN E-PM2

              Olympus PEN E-PM2

              Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

              $402 with 14-42mm lens

              Movie format Records higher quality movies
              Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
              Compare the PEN E-PM2 vs the PEN E-PL2
              Compare the PEN E-PM2 vs the PEN E-P1
              Olympus PEN E-PL5

              Olympus PEN E-PL5

              Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

              $430 with 14-42mm lens

              Movie format Records higher quality movies
              Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
              Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
              Compare the PEN E-PL5 vs the PEN E-PL2
              Compare the PEN E-PL5 vs the PEN E-P1
              Olympus PEN E-PM1

              Olympus PEN E-PM1

              Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

              Movie format Records higher quality movies
              3D Captures 3D images
              Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
              Color depth Has slightly less color depth
              Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the PEN E-PL2
              Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the PEN E-P1
              Olympus PEN E-P3

              Olympus PEN E-P3

              Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

              $1,345 body only

              Movie format Records higher quality movies
              Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
              Lowest price Is much more expensive
              Color depth Has slightly less color depth
              Compare the PEN E-P3 vs the PEN E-PL2
              Compare the PEN E-P3 vs the PEN E-P1

              Olympus PEN E-PL2 Competitors

              Advantages

              Disadvantages

              Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

              Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

              Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

              $222 body only

              $300 - $799 with 14mm lens

              3D Takes 3D photos
              Touch screen Has a touch screen
              Image stabilization No image stabilization
              Panorama Lacks in-camera panoramic stitching
              Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the PEN E-PL2

              Olympus PEN E-P1 Competitors

              Advantages

              Disadvantages

              Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

              Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

              Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

              $565 body only

              $614 with 14-45mm lens

              Shutter lag Much less shutter lag
              Startup delay Significantly less startup delay
              Image stabilization No image stabilization
              Color depth Worse color depth
              Compare the Lumix DMC-GF1 vs the PEN E-P1
              Pentax Q

              Pentax Q

              Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

              $215 body only

              $339 with 5mm lens

              Shutter lag Much less shutter lag
              HDR Has in-camera HDR
              Lens availability Much fewer lenses available
              Startup delay Significantly more startup delay
              Compare the Q vs the PEN E-P1

              appearance

              Olympus PEN E-PL2 Olympus PEN E-P1
              Olympus PEN E-PL2 Olympus PEN E-P1
              Olympus PEN E-PL2 Olympus PEN E-P1

              discussion

              Olympus PEN E-PL2
              PEN E-PL2
              Olympus

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              Olympus PEN E-P1
              PEN E-P1
              Olympus

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