Olympus
PEN E-PL2
 vs
Olympus
PEN E-PL1

Olympus PEN E-PL2

43

  
Olympus PEN E-PL1

41

  

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-PL1

External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
External flash not needed
 

differences

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-PL2
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Movie continuous focus Continuous video focus Yes vs No
Help
 Record movies without worrying about focus
Startup delay Less startup delay 1300 ms vs 2200 ms
Help
 More than 40% less delay when turning on
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 573 ISO vs 487 ISO
Help
 The PEN E-PL2 has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 434 ms vs 820 ms
Help
 Around 50% 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
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Olympus PEN E-PL2 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-PL2

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-PL1
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Color depth Better color depth 21.5 bits vs 21.4 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.1 more bits of color
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 290 shots vs 280 shots
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Slightly lighter 334 g vs 362 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-PL1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Olympus PEN E-PL2 Olympus PEN E-PL2
43 vs 41
Explain scores
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Olympus PEN E-PL1
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
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
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
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
PEN E-PL2:10.2 EV
PEN E-PL1:10.1 EV
Focus points Few focus points Help
11
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
720p @ 30fps
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
12.2 MP
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
PEN E-PL2:280 shots
PEN E-PL1:290 shots
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
PEN E-PL2:6,400 ISO
PEN E-PL1:3,200 ISO
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
0
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
3 fps
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
PEN E-PL2:55.0
PEN E-PL1:54.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$299 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
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-PL1
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$399 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the PEN E-PL2
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the PEN E-PL1
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$497 with 10-30mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Compare the 1 J1 vs the PEN E-PL2
Compare the 1 J1 vs the PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN E-PL5

Olympus PEN E-PL5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$854 with 14-42mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Compare the PEN E-PL5 vs the PEN E-PL2
Compare the PEN E-PL5 vs the PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN E-P1

Olympus PEN E-P1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$285 body only

$399 with 14-42mm lens
Thickness Is thinner
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Startup delay Has significantly more startup delay
Compare the PEN E-P1 vs the PEN E-PL2
Compare the PEN E-P1 vs the PEN E-PL1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$339 - $514 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the PEN E-PL2
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN E-P3

Olympus PEN E-P3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$369 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
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-PL1

Olympus PEN E-PL2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Olympus PEN E-PL2.

Olympus PEN E-PL1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Olympus PEN E-PL1.

appearance

Olympus PEN E-PL2 Olympus PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN E-PL2 Olympus PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN E-PL2 Olympus PEN E-PL1

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