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

Olympus PEN E-PL2

41

vs
Olympus PEN E-P1

40
 
 
 
 

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-PL2

Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
External flash not needed
 

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.
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-PL2
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 460k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 2x higher resolution screen
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay 1300 ms vs 2500 ms
Help
 Around 50% less delay when turning on
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 434 ms vs 1187 ms
Help
 2.7x less delay when taking photos
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The PEN E-PL2's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 573 ISO vs 536 ISO
Help
 The PEN E-PL2 has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
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
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 300 shots vs 280 shots
Help
 Around 10% more shots per battery charge
Dynamic range More dynamic range 10.4 EV vs 10.2 EV
Help
 0.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Size Slightly smaller 121x70x36 mm vs 115x72x42 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Thickness Thinner 1.4" vs 1.7"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Olympus PEN E-P1 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-P1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Olympus PEN E-PL2 Olympus PEN E-PL2
41 vs 40
Explain scores
Olympus PEN E-P1 Olympus PEN E-P1
Green arrow Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation.

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Sensor shift
External flash Each supports an external flash Help
Better lighting
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
12.2 MP
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
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
PEN E-PL2:6,400 ISO
PEN E-P1:3,200 ISO
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
PEN E-PL2:280 shots
PEN E-P1:300 shots
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
PEN E-PL2:460k dots
PEN E-P1:230k dots
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
3 fps
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen
Color depth Poor color depth Help
21.4 bits
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
55.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-PL1

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$270 with 14-42mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PEN E-PL1 vs the PEN E-PL2
Compare the PEN E-PL1 vs the PEN E-P1
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$329 with 14-42mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Focus points Has slightly more focus points
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the PEN E-PL2
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the PEN E-P1
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$279 - $299 with 14-42mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Panorama Creates panoramas in-camera
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
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

$369 with 14-42mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Touch screen Has a touch screen
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-P2

Olympus PEN E-P2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$400 with 17mm lens
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Startup delay Has slightly 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 E-PM2

Olympus PEN E-PM2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$509 with 14-42mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Compare the PEN E-PM2 vs the PEN E-PL2
Compare the PEN E-PM2 vs the PEN E-P1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$340 - $555 with 14-42mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
3D Captures 3D images
Image stabilization Doesn't have image stabilization
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the PEN E-PL2
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the PEN E-P1

Olympus PEN E-PL2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-PL5

Olympus PEN E-PL5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$685 with 14-42mm lens
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Compare the PEN E-PL5 vs the PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-P1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Olympus 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

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