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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-P2

Portability
60
Imaging
47
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-P2 Key Specs

Olympus E-30
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Revealed March 2009
Olympus E-P2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Introduced April 2010
  • Old Model is Olympus E-P1
  • Successor is Olympus E-P3
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-P2 Overview

Following is a extensive assessment of the Olympus E-30 versus Olympus E-P2, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are manufactured by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the E-P2 (12MP) is relatively close and they feature the same exact sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-30 was manufactured 13 months earlier than the E-P2 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-P2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight into a thorough comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the E-30 scores against the E-P2 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Olympus E-P2

 E-30 E-P2 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Olympus E-30

 E-P2 E-30 
IntroducedApril 2010March 2009More modern by 13 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Olympus E-P2

 E-30 E-P2 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-P2 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-30 offers outside measurements of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") and a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) and the Olympus E-P2 has measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") along with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-30 versus Olympus E-P2 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the E-30 against the E-P2.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-P2 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-30 and E-P2 is 60 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-P2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-P2 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to picture the difference in sensor sizes purely by viewing technical specs. The picture underneath will give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-30 and E-P2.

As you have seen, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the same exact MP therefore you should expect comparable quality of photographs however you really should factor the release date of the cameras into account. The more aged E-30 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-P2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-P2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-P2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-30 Portrait photography factors
Olympus E-P2 Portrait photography factors
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-30
Street photography with Olympus E-P2
72
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography features
Olympus E-P2 Sports photography features
52
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (750 shots)
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery power (300 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography factors
Olympus E-P2 Travel photography factors
49
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
missing Time Lapse mode
low battery pack (750 CIPA)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
43
lack of Timelapse mode
terrible battery power (300 per charge)
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-P2 as a Landscape photography camera
52
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (750 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse mode
60
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery power (300 per charge)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-30
Vlogging with Olympus E-P2
18
can't shoot video
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone jack
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-P2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Olympus E-P2
 Olympus E-30Olympus PEN E-P2
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-30 Olympus PEN E-P2
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2009-03-24 2010-04-22
Body design Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ TruePic V
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4032 x 3024
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech HyperCrystal II LCD HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 695 gr (1.53 lbs) 355 gr (0.78 lbs)
Dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 56
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 21.5
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 10.4
DXO Low light score 530 505
Other
Battery life 750 pictures 300 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-1 BLS-1
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC card
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $1,299 $799