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Olympus FE-4030 vs Olympus E-PL2

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30
Olympus FE-4030 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47

Olympus FE-4030 vs Olympus E-PL2 Key Specs

Olympus FE-4030
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 26-105mm (F2.6-5.9) lens
  • 146g - 93 x 56 x 22mm
  • Launched January 2010
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
  • Launched February 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL3
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Olympus FE-4030 vs Olympus E-PL2 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus FE-4030 vs Olympus E-PL2, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both designed by Olympus. The image resolution of the FE-4030 (14MP) and the E-PL2 (12MP) is pretty well matched but the FE-4030 (1/2.3") and E-PL2 (Four Thirds) posses different sensor dimensions.

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The FE-4030 was released 13 months before the E-PL2 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus FE-4030 being a Compact camera and the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the FE-4030 grades against the E-PL2 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus FE-4030 over the Olympus E-PL2

 FE-4030 E-PL2 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Olympus FE-4030

 E-PL2 FE-4030 
LaunchedFebruary 2011January 2010Fresher by 13 months
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus FE-4030 and Olympus E-PL2

 FE-4030 E-PL2 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Olympus FE-4030 vs Olympus E-PL2 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera frequently, you need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus FE-4030 has got physical measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 146 grams (0.32 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL2 has proportions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs).

Check out the Olympus FE-4030 vs Olympus E-PL2 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are employing during that time. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the FE-4030 against the E-PL2.

Olympus FE-4030 vs Olympus E-PL2 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the FE-4030 and E-PL2 is 95 and 85 respectively.

Olympus FE-4030 vs Olympus E-PL2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-4030 vs Olympus E-PL2 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizing simply by looking at specifications. The photograph underneath might provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the FE-4030 and E-PL2.

Plainly, the two cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The FE-4030 because of its tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh tougher and the Olympus FE-4030 will give greater detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The older FE-4030 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus FE-4030 vs Olympus E-PL2 sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-4030 vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-4030 vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus FE-4030 Portrait photography info
Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography info
28
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
60
you can focus manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus FE-4030 Street photography info
Olympus E-PL2 Street photography info
48
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus FE-4030 Sports photography highlights
Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography highlights
34
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
max fps low (3.0 fps)
resolution not great (12MP)
bad battery life (280 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus FE-4030 Travel photography factors
Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography factors
65
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.6)
51
built-in flash
no Time Lapse recording
bad battery life (280 per charge)
resolution not great (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus FE-4030 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography highlights
32
reasonably wide (26mm)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.6)
screen is small (2.7")
lack of manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
61
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (280 CIPA)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus FE-4030 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-PL2 as a Vlogging camera
25
reasonably wide (26mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.6)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have external mic support
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
does not contain selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic port
Photography Glossary

Olympus FE-4030 vs Olympus E-PL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-4030 and Olympus E-PL2
 Olympus FE-4030Olympus PEN E-PL2
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus FE-4030 Olympus PEN E-PL2
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2010-01-07 2011-02-11
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III Truepic V
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4032 x 3024
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 64 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens focal range 26-105mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.6-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 4cm -
Amount of lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.9 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
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 WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.80 m 10.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 146 gr (0.32 lb) 362 gr (0.80 lb)
Physical dimensions 93 x 56 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 score not tested 55
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.2
DXO Low light score not tested 573
Other
Battery life - 280 images
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model - BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $130 $0