Olympus
PEN E-P2
 vs
Olympus
PEN E-PL1

Updated (June, 2011): Compare the Olympus PEN E-P3 vs Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-P2

47

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-P2

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
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-P2
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 56.0 vs 54.0
Help
 Almost the same
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Dynamic range More dynamic range 10.4 EV vs 10.1 EV
Help
 0.3 f-stops more dynamic range
Size 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-P2 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-P2

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
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
Lowest price Cheaper $259.99 vs $479.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $220 cheaper (around 50% less)
Weight Slightly lighter 334 g vs 355 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-P2 Olympus PEN E-P2
47 vs 44
Explain scores
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Olympus PEN E-PL1
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Olympus PEN E-P2.

advice

Need help deciding?

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I am considering either the PEN E-P2 or the PEN E-PL1,
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Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!
0
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by Emily-Bahne last month
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by Jill-Miller 3 days ago
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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.

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Sensor shift
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
PEN E-P2:$479.95
PEN E-PL1:$259.99
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
60 seconds
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
3,200 ISO
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
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
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
PEN E-P2:10.4 EV
PEN E-PL1:10.1 EV
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
PEN E-P2:505 ISO
PEN E-PL1:487 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$485 with 14-42mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PEN E-PL2 vs the PEN E-P2
Compare the PEN E-PL2 vs the PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the PEN E-P2
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the PEN E-PL1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Image stabilization Doesn't have image stabilization
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the PEN E-P2
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the PEN E-PL1
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
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the PEN E-P2
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the PEN E-PL1
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 resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the PEN E-P2
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN E-P1

Olympus PEN E-P1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$184 body only

$375 with 17mm lens
Compare the PEN E-P1 vs the PEN E-P2
Compare the PEN E-P1 vs the PEN E-PL1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$376 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Image stabilization Doesn't have image stabilization
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the PEN E-P2
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the PEN E-PL1

Olympus PEN E-P2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Olympus PEN E-P2.

Olympus PEN E-PL1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

appearance

Olympus PEN E-P2 Olympus PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN E-P2 Olympus PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN E-P2 Olympus PEN E-PL1

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Avatar for Alex Black Alex Black (2:41 PM, May 02, 2010)
One subtle difference between these two is that the PEN E-P2 has a dial on the back of the body to control say changing aperture, whereas the PEN E-LP1 doesn't, instead you have to use the buttons.