Olympus PEN E-PL2

49

"Its image capture would be limited only by your own expertise."
digital-photography-school.com | talking about the PEN E-PL2's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-PL2

Screen size
Large screen
3.0"
Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Startup delay
Almost no delay when powering up
1300 ms startup delay
Movie continuous focus
Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Interchangeable lenses
Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds
Olympus PEN E-PL1

44

Runner-up

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-PL1

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Sensor shift
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Interchangeable lenses
Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
External flash not needed

differences

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-PL2

Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
Startup delay Much less startup delay 1300 ms vs 2200 ms
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More than 40% less delay when turning on
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag 434 ms vs 820 ms
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Around 50% less delay when taking photos
Movie continuous focus Continuous video focus Yes vs No
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Record movies without worrying about focus
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 460k dots vs 230k dots
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2x higher resolution screen
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 573 ISO vs 487 ISO
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The PEN E-PL2 has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
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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
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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
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Distinguishes 0.1 more bits of color
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm vs Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
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Around 10% larger sensor
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 290 shots vs 280 shots
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Almost the same
Lowest price Cheaper $259.99 vs $484.99
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The best price we've seen is $225 cheaper (around 50% less)
Weight Slightly lighter 334 g vs 362 g
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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
49 vs 44
Explain scores
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Olympus PEN E-PL1
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Olympus PEN E-PL2.

advice

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I am considering either the PEN E-PL2 or the PEN E-PL1,
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Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!

0
votes
by Emily-Bahne last month
Olympus E-P3 vs Olympus PEN E-PL1

I'm a beginner. I'm going to be traveling all over the world and I want a camera that is light and...

0
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by trixie-bird last week
Olympus PEN E-PL1 vs Panasonic DMC-GF2

Intermediate.  Want to take pictures or people and landscapes.

0
votes
by hardi last month
Canon G1X vs Olympus PEN E-PL2

beginner, easy to carry, fast focus

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Sensor shift
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
PEN E-PL2:$484.99
PEN E-PL1:$259.99
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
60 seconds
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
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
PEN E-PL2:434 ms
PEN E-PL1:820 ms
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Focus points Few focus points Help
11
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
PEN E-PL2:280 shots
PEN E-PL1:290 shots
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
12.2 MP
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
720p @ 30fps
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
PEN E-PL2:10.2 EV
PEN E-PL1:10.1 EV
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
PEN E-PL2:460k dots
PEN E-PL1:230k dots
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 Lite E-PL3

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$589 - $600 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
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 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
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Startup delay Has significantly more startup delay
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$376 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Image stabilization Doesn't have image stabilization
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Olympus PEN E-P2

Olympus PEN E-P2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$480 with 17mm lens

Thickness Is thinner
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash

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

discussion

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