Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PM2

The following is a in depth assessment of the Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PM2, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are produced by Olympus. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and E-PM2 (16MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

Photography Glossary

The E-30 was revealed 5 years prior to the E-PM2 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple summary of how the E-30 grades vs the E-PM2 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-30 and Olympus PEN E-PM2. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus E-30 Gallery and Olympus E-PM2 Gallery.

When you are looking to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-30 offers outside measurements of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") having a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PM2 has specifications of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PM2 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-30 against the E-PM2.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-30 and E-PM2 is 60 and 89 respectively.

Often, it's difficult to envision the gap in sensor dimensions simply by viewing a spec sheet. The image below will give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-30 and E-PM2.

As you can see, the two cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You should anticipate the Olympus E-PM2 to provide you with extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images far more aggressively. The more aged E-30 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.