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Olympus FE-4000 vs Olympus E-PL2

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27
Olympus FE-4000 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47

Olympus FE-4000 vs Olympus E-PL2 Key Specs

Olympus FE-4000
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 26-105mm (F2.6-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Launched July 2009
  • Also Known as X-925
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
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL3
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Olympus FE-4000 vs Olympus E-PL2 Overview

On this page, we will be reviewing the Olympus FE-4000 versus Olympus E-PL2, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are offered by Olympus. The image resolution of the FE-4000 (12MP) and the E-PL2 (12MP) is pretty comparable but the FE-4000 (1/2.3") and E-PL2 (Four Thirds) offer different sensor size.

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The FE-4000 was announced 18 months before the E-PL2 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus FE-4000 being a Compact camera and the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a short summation of how the FE-4000 grades against the E-PL2 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus FE-4000 over the Olympus E-PL2

 FE-4000 E-PL2 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Olympus FE-4000

 E-PL2 FE-4000 
RevealedFebruary 2011July 2009More recent by 18 months
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus FE-4000 and Olympus E-PL2

 FE-4000 E-PL2 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus FE-4000 vs Olympus E-PL2 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus FE-4000 provides physical measurements of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) and the Olympus E-PL2 has measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs).

Compare the Olympus FE-4000 versus Olympus E-PL2 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the FE-4000 and the E-PL2.

Olympus FE-4000 vs Olympus E-PL2 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the FE-4000 and E-PL2 is 95 and 85 respectively.

Olympus FE-4000 vs Olympus E-PL2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-4000 vs Olympus E-PL2 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements just by checking out a spec sheet. The graphic below will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the FE-4000 and E-PL2.

Clearly, each of the cameras provide the same resolution albeit different sensor measurements. The FE-4000 has got the smaller sensor which should make achieving shallow DOF more challenging. The older FE-4000 will be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus FE-4000 vs Olympus E-PL2 sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-4000 vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-4000 vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 Portrait photography features
Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography features
21
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 Street photography advice
Olympus E-PL2 Street photography advice
55
lighter than competition in class (136 grams)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-PL2 as a Sports photography camera
17
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (280 shots)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 Travel photography info
Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography info
62
lighter than competition in class (136 grams)
flash built-in
really wide (26mm)
missing Timelapse function
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
51
has built in flash
no Time Lapse recording
terrible battery life (280 shots)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus FE-4000
Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL2
28
really wide (26mm)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
small screen (2.7")
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
missing Timelapse function
61
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
resolution not great (12MP)
terrible battery life (280 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-PL2 as a Vlogging camera
28
really wide (26mm)
lighter than competition in class (136 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 resolution)
missing microphone port
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
does not feature selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic jack
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Olympus FE-4000 vs Olympus E-PL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-4000 and Olympus E-PL2
 Olympus FE-4000Olympus PEN E-PL2
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus FE-4000 Olympus PEN E-PL2
Also Known as X-925 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2009-07-22 2011-02-11
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III Truepic V
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 3968 x 2976 4032 x 3024
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 26-105mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.6-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Total lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed - 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 10.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 136g (0.30 lbs) 362g (0.80 lbs)
Physical dimensions 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 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 - 280 shots
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - BLS-5
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD/SDHC
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $130 $0