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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL2

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL2 Key Specs

Olympus E-30
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Launched March 2009
Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL3
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL2 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL2, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both offered by Olympus. The resolution of the E-30 (12MP) and the E-PL2 (12MP) is fairly well matched and both cameras offer the identical sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-30 was introduced 22 months prior to the E-PL2 making them a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-30 scores against the E-PL2 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Olympus E-PL2

 E-30 E-PL2 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Olympus E-30

 E-PL2 E-30 
IntroducedFebruary 2011March 2009Newer by 22 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Olympus E-PL2

 E-30 E-PL2 
Manual focus More precise focus
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL2 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera often, you will want to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-30 enjoys physical dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") along with a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) while the Olympus E-PL2 has proportions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL2 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the E-30 vs the E-PL2.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL2 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-30 and E-PL2 is 60 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL2 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions just by looking at specs. The image underneath may give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-30 and E-PL2.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras feature the identical sensor size and the same exact megapixels therefore you can expect similar quality of images but you will want to consider the launch date of the products into consideration. The more aged E-30 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-30
Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL2
59
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
60
focusing manually
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-30 Street photography highlights
Olympus E-PL2 Street photography highlights
72
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography features
Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography features
51
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (750 shots)
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (280 CIPA)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-PL2 as a Travel photography camera
49
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Timelapse function
bad battery life (750 per charge)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
51
built-in flash
no Time Lapse function
not so great battery (280 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography factors
Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography factors
52
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is small (2.7")
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (750 shots)
lack of Timelapse function
61
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery (280 shots)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging advice
Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging advice
18
can't record video
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic support
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Olympus E-PL2
 Olympus E-30Olympus PEN E-PL2
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-30 Olympus PEN E-PL2
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2009-03-24 2011-02-11
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III+ Truepic V
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4032 x 3024
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology HyperCrystal II LCD HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 98 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m 10.00 m
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)
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250s 1/160s
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)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 695 gr (1.53 lb) 362 gr (0.80 lb)
Physical dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 55
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 21.4
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 10.2
DXO Low light score 530 573
Other
Battery life 750 pictures 280 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-1 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $1,299 $0