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Nikon 1 V2 vs Olympus E-PL2

Portability
85
Imaging
44
Features
66
Overall
52
Nikon 1 V2 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47

Nikon 1 V2 vs Olympus E-PL2 Key Specs

Nikon 1 V2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon 1 Mount
  • 278g - 109 x 82 x 46mm
  • Introduced October 2012
  • Replaced the Nikon 1 V1
  • Renewed by Nikon 1 V3
Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Revealed February 2011
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • New Model is Olympus E-PL3
Photography Glossary

Nikon 1 V2 vs Olympus E-PL2 Overview

Below is a extended review of the Nikon 1 V2 versus Olympus E-PL2, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Nikon and Olympus. The sensor resolution of the 1 V2 (14MP) and the E-PL2 (12MP) is pretty similar but the 1 V2 (1") and E-PL2 (Four Thirds) possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The 1 V2 was manufactured 21 months later than the E-PL2 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Nikon 1 V2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving in to a complete comparison, below is a concise overview of how the 1 V2 grades against the E-PL2 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 V2 over the Olympus E-PL2

 1 V2 E-PL2 
RevealedOctober 2012February 2011More recent by 21 months
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Nikon 1 V2

 E-PL2 1 V2 

Common features in the Nikon 1 V2 and Olympus E-PL2

 1 V2 E-PL2 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Nikon 1 V2 vs Olympus E-PL2 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to factor its weight and measurements. The Nikon 1 V2 provides outer measurements of 109mm x 82mm x 46mm (4.3" x 3.2" x 1.8") along with a weight of 278 grams (0.61 lbs) and the Olympus E-PL2 has proportions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs).

Check the Nikon 1 V2 versus Olympus E-PL2 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose at the time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the 1 V2 vs the E-PL2.

Nikon 1 V2 vs Olympus E-PL2 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the 1 V2 and E-PL2 is 85 and 85 respectively.

Nikon 1 V2 vs Olympus E-PL2 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 V2 vs Olympus E-PL2 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to envision the difference between sensor measurements merely by reading specifications. The visual below might give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the 1 V2 and E-PL2.

To sum up, each of these cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The 1 V2 because of its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field trickier and the Nikon 1 V2 will offer you extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The newer 1 V2 will have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Nikon 1 V2 vs Olympus E-PL2 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 V2 vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 V2 vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 V2 Portrait photography advice
Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography advice
66
manual focus
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
60
you can focus manually
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Nikon 1 V2 Street photography info
Olympus E-PL2 Street photography info
63
sensor size is decent (1")
delivers RAW formats
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Nikon 1 V2 Sports photography features
Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography features
63
quiet shooting (1/16,000s)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
has tracking focus
sensor has phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
low frames per second (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (280 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 V2 Travel photography details
Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography details
62
resolution is good (14MP)
flash built-in
no Timelapse function
does not posses selfie friendly display
51
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
not so great battery (280 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon 1 V2
Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL2
63
manual focus
switch lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
no Timelapse function
61
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (280 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 V2 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-PL2 as a Vlogging camera
29
has face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not posses selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
no microphone support
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone support
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Nikon 1 V2 vs Olympus E-PL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 V2 and Olympus E-PL2
 Nikon 1 V2Olympus PEN E-PL2
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon 1 V2 Olympus PEN E-PL2
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-10-24 2011-02-11
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed 3A Truepic V
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 13.2 x 8.8mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 116.2mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3072 4032 x 3024
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 73 11
Lens
Lens support Nikon 1 Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 13 107
Crop factor 2.7 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 921k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT LCD HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting rate 15.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 10.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60 fps), 1072 x 720 (60 fps) 640 x 240 (400), 320 x 120 (1200) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Optional None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 278 gr (0.61 pounds) 362 gr (0.80 pounds)
Dimensions 109 x 82 x 46mm (4.3" x 3.2" x 1.8") 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 50 55
DXO Color Depth rating 20.2 21.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.8 10.2
DXO Low light rating 403 573
Other
Battery life 310 pictures 280 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL21 BLS-5
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $599 $0