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Olympus FE-5020 vs Olympus E-PL2

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
20
Overall
29
Olympus FE-5020 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47

Olympus FE-5020 vs Olympus E-PL2 Key Specs

Olympus FE-5020
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 24-120mm (F3.3-5.8) lens
  • 137g - 93 x 56 x 25mm
  • Released July 2009
  • Additionally Known as X-935
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
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL3
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Olympus FE-5020 vs Olympus E-PL2 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Olympus FE-5020 and Olympus E-PL2, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are sold by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the FE-5020 (12MP) and the E-PL2 (12MP) is relatively comparable but the FE-5020 (1/2.3") and E-PL2 (Four Thirds) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The FE-5020 was unveiled 18 months earlier than the E-PL2 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus FE-5020 being a Compact camera and the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a full comparison, here is a brief view of how the FE-5020 grades versus the E-PL2 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus FE-5020 over the Olympus E-PL2

 FE-5020 E-PL2 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Olympus FE-5020

 E-PL2 FE-5020 
IntroducedFebruary 2011July 2009Fresher by 18 months
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus FE-5020 and Olympus E-PL2

 FE-5020 E-PL2 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus FE-5020 vs Olympus E-PL2 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera, you will want to think about its weight and size. The Olympus FE-5020 has external dimensions of 93mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") having a weight of 137 grams (0.30 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL2 has specifications of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs).

Examine the Olympus FE-5020 and Olympus E-PL2 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing during that time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the FE-5020 against the E-PL2.

Olympus FE-5020 vs Olympus E-PL2 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the FE-5020 and E-PL2 is 95 and 85 respectively.

Olympus FE-5020 vs Olympus E-PL2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-5020 vs Olympus E-PL2 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its difficult to see the contrast in sensor sizing merely by going through technical specs. The graphic below should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the FE-5020 and E-PL2.

As you can tell, the two cameras have the same resolution albeit not the same sensor sizing. The FE-5020 has the smaller sensor which will make obtaining bokeh trickier. The older FE-5020 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus FE-5020 vs Olympus E-PL2 sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-5020 vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-5020 vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-PL2 as a Portrait photography camera
21
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
can't use external flash
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
60
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 Street photography highlights
Olympus E-PL2 Street photography highlights
60
environment proof
lighter than competitors (137g)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus FE-5020
Sports photography with Olympus E-PL2
24
environment proof
low max shutter speed (1/500 seconds)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
bad battery pack (280 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus FE-5020
Travel photography with Olympus E-PL2
65
lighter than competitors (137g)
environment proof
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low resolution (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
51
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
bad battery pack (280 shots)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography highlights
31
relatively wide (24mm)
environment proof
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
61
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (280 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus FE-5020 Vlogging highlights
Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging highlights
28
relatively wide (24mm)
lighter than competitors (137 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone jack
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone support
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Olympus FE-5020 vs Olympus E-PL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-5020 and Olympus E-PL2
 Olympus FE-5020Olympus PEN E-PL2
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus FE-5020 Olympus PEN E-PL2
Also referred to as X-935 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2009-07-22 2011-02-11
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III Truepic V
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 3968 x 2976 4032 x 3024
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 64 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.3-5.8 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/500s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate - 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.10 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)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 137g (0.30 lb) 362g (0.80 lb)
Physical dimensions 93 x 56 x 25mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") 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 images
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-42B BLS-5
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type xD-Picture Card, microSD SD/SDHC
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $160 $0