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Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL2

Portability
96
Imaging
34
Features
20
Overall
28
Olympus FE-5010 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL2 Key Specs

Olympus FE-5010
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-180mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
  • 130g - 96 x 57 x 21mm
  • Announced January 2009
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
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL3
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Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL2 Overview

On this page, we will be evaluating the Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL2, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are produced by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the FE-5010 (12MP) and the E-PL2 (12MP) is relatively well matched but the FE-5010 (1/2.3") and E-PL2 (Four Thirds) boast totally different sensor size.

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The FE-5010 was manufactured 3 years earlier than the E-PL2 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus FE-5010 being a Compact camera and the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a detailed comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the FE-5010 scores vs the E-PL2 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus FE-5010 over the Olympus E-PL2

 FE-5010 E-PL2 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Olympus FE-5010

 E-PL2 FE-5010 
LaunchedFebruary 2011January 2009More recent by 25 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus FE-5010 and Olympus E-PL2

 FE-5010 E-PL2 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL2 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus FE-5010 comes with physical dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 130 grams (0.29 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL2 has sizing 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-5010 vs Olympus E-PL2 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the FE-5010 compared to the E-PL2.

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL2 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the FE-5010 and E-PL2 is 96 and 85 respectively.

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL2 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to envision the gap between sensor measurements only by checking specs. The graphic below might give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FE-5010 and E-PL2.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras provide the same resolution albeit not the same sensor measurements. The FE-5010 has got the tinier sensor which should make obtaining shallow depth of field more difficult. The older FE-5010 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL2 sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-PL2 as a Portrait photography camera
20
no manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-PL2 as a Street photography camera
66
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
lighter than competitors in class (130 grams)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-PL2 as a Sports photography camera
33
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (280 per charge)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 Travel photography details
Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography details
60
lighter than competitors in class (130g)
environment proof
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
51
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (280 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography highlights
31
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual mode not available
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
61
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
terrible battery pack (280 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 Vlogging details
Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging details
28
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (130 grams)
wide angle not good (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
video quality not great (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of mic socket
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
does not have a selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone socket
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Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-5010 and Olympus E-PL2
 Olympus FE-5010Olympus PEN E-PL2
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus FE-5010 Olympus PEN E-PL2
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2009-01-07 2011-02-11
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Truepic V
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 3968 x 2976 4032 x 3024
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 64 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens focal range 36-180mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.6 -
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Total lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.9 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate - 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m 10.00 m
Flash options Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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 data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 130 grams (0.29 lbs) 362 grams (0.80 lbs)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 21mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") 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 pictures
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model LI-42B BLS-5
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage xD-Picture Card (1GB, 2GB), microSD (MASD-1 is required) SD/SDHC
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $130 $0