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Canon M vs Olympus E-PM2

Portability
89
Imaging
60
Features
65
Overall
62
Canon EOS M front
 
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
Portability
89
Imaging
53
Features
63
Overall
57

Canon M vs Olympus E-PM2 Key Specs

Canon M
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF-M Mount
  • 298g - 109 x 66 x 32mm
  • Introduced July 2012
Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Announced May 2013
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PM1
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Canon M vs Olympus E-PM2 Overview

Here is a extended comparison of the Canon M versus Olympus E-PM2, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by rivals Canon and Olympus. The image resolution of the M (18MP) and the E-PM2 (16MP) is fairly close but the M (APS-C) and E-PM2 (Four Thirds) offer totally different sensor size.

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The M was released 10 months earlier than the E-PM2 which means that they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go into a in depth comparison, here is a brief summary of how the M scores versus the E-PM2 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon M over the Olympus E-PM2

 M E-PM2 
Display resolution1040k460kClearer display (+580k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Canon M

 E-PM2 M 
AnnouncedMay 2013July 2012Fresher by 10 months

Common features in the Canon M and Olympus E-PM2

 M E-PM2 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Canon M vs Olympus E-PM2 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera often, you should think about its weight and proportions. The Canon M offers outside dimensions of 109mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") along with a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs) and the Olympus E-PM2 has measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

See the Canon M versus Olympus E-PM2 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the M compared to the E-PM2.

Canon M vs Olympus E-PM2 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the M and E-PM2 is 89 and 89 respectively.

Canon M vs Olympus E-PM2 top view buttons comparison

Canon M vs Olympus E-PM2 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very hard to see the difference in sensor sizing purely by viewing specs. The visual here will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the M and E-PM2.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The M featuring a larger sensor will make shooting bokeh easier and the Canon M will provide you with extra detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics more aggressively. The older M will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon M vs Olympus E-PM2 sensor size comparison

Canon M vs Olympus E-PM2 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon M vs Olympus E-PM2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon M Portrait photography factors
Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography factors
76
focusing manually
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW files
71
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon M Street photography highlights
Olympus E-PM2 Street photography highlights
72
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
features focus by touch
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
79
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
offers touch to focus
good high ISO (25,600)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Canon M as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-PM2 as a Sports photography camera
55
decent megapixels (18MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
slow frames per second (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
terrible battery (230 shots)
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon M as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-PM2 as a Travel photography camera
63
features focus by touch
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse function
terrible battery (230 CIPA)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
66
offers touch to focus
good MP (16MP)
does not have Timelapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Canon M as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-PM2 as a Landscape photography camera
66
focusing manually
change lenses (Canon EF-M mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
decent megapixels (18MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
terrible battery (230 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
74
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon M Vlogging advice
Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging advice
37
touchscreen capability
provides face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external microphone jack
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
36
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone jack
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Canon M vs Olympus E-PM2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon M and Olympus E-PM2
 Canon EOS MOlympus PEN E-PM2
General Information
Brand Canon Olympus
Model type Canon EOS M Olympus PEN E-PM2
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-07-23 2013-05-21
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 5 -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 22.3 x 14.9mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 332.3mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3
Highest resolution 5184 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 12800 25600
Highest boosted ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 31 35
Lens
Lens mount type Canon EF-M Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 23 107
Focal length multiplier 1.6 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech Clear View II TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/200 secs 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (60, 50 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 298g (0.66 pounds) 269g (0.59 pounds)
Physical dimensions 109 x 66 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 65 72
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.2 12.2
DXO Low light rating 827 932
Other
Battery life 230 shots 360 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LP-E12 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $510 $448