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Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-PL2

Portability
74
Imaging
68
Features
84
Overall
74
Nikon Z50 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-PL2 Key Specs

Nikon Z50
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Increase to 204800)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 397g - 127 x 94 x 60mm
  • Announced October 2019
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
  • Announced February 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL3
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Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-PL2 Overview

The following is a complete assessment of the Nikon Z50 and Olympus E-PL2, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Nikon and Olympus. There exists a significant gap between the resolutions of the Z50 (21MP) and E-PL2 (12MP) and the Z50 (APS-C) and E-PL2 (Four Thirds) posses different sensor sizing.

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The Z50 was announced 8 years after the E-PL2 which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Nikon Z50 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a short introduction of how the Z50 matches up vs the E-PL2 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon Z50 over the Olympus E-PL2

 Z50 E-PL2 
AnnouncedOctober 2019February 2011Newer by 106 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1040k460kClearer screen (+580k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Nikon Z50

 E-PL2 Z50 

Common features in the Nikon Z50 and Olympus E-PL2

 Z50 E-PL2 
Manually focus Very accurate focus

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-PL2 Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Nikon Z50 enjoys outer measurements of 127mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") and a weight of 397 grams (0.88 lbs) and the Olympus E-PL2 has proportions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs).

See the Nikon Z50 and Olympus E-PL2 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the Z50 compared to the E-PL2.

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-PL2 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the Z50 and E-PL2 is 74 and 85 respectively.

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-PL2 top view buttons comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-PL2 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions just by looking at specs. The image here will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the Z50 and E-PL2.

All in all, the two cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The Z50 using its bigger sensor is going to make getting bokeh simpler and the Nikon Z50 will resolve more detail with its extra 9MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The more recent Z50 should have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-PL2 sensor size comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon Z50 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-PL2 as a Portrait photography camera
80
focusing manually
good megapixels (21 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focus
saves RAW formats
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Nikon Z50 Street photography highlights
Olympus E-PL2 Street photography highlights
73
has a tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
has touch focus
weather proofing
great high ISO (51,200)
does not have image stabilization
heavier than average in class (397g)
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Nikon Z50 Sports photography details
Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography details
75
good megapixels (21 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking focus
weather proofing
has phase detect auto focus
does not have image stabilization
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery life (280 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon Z50 Travel photography advice
Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography advice
77
weather proofing
has bluetooth
has touch focus
good megapixels (21MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
heavier than average in class (397 grams)
51
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery life (280 shots)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon Z50
Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL2
79
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Nikon Z mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inch)
good megapixels (21MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
great high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
does not have image stabilization
61
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery life (280 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon Z50 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-PL2 as a Vlogging camera
71
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen capability
features face detect focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has mic support
does not have image stabilization
heavier than average in class (397g)
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
does not have selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic jack
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Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-PL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon Z50 and Olympus E-PL2
 Nikon Z50Olympus PEN E-PL2
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon Z50 Olympus PEN E-PL2
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2019-10-10 2011-02-11
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed 6 Truepic V
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 21 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Max resolution 5568 x 3712 4032 x 3024
Max native ISO 51200 6400
Max enhanced ISO 204800 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 209 11
Lens
Lens support Nikon Z Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 15 107
Crop factor 1.5 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3.2 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 11.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 397 grams (0.88 lbs) 362 grams (0.80 lbs)
Physical dimensions 127 x 94 x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 55
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 573
Other
Battery life 320 photographs 280 photographs
Form of battery Built-in Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL25 BLS-5
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC
Storage slots One One
Price at release $857 $0