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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P2

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P2 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Announced October 2013
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-M1 II
Olympus E-P2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Launched April 2010
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-P1
  • Successor is Olympus E-P3
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P2 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-M1 and Olympus E-P2, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are designed by Olympus. There is a large difference among the image resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and E-P2 (12MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-M1 was revealed 3 years later than the E-P2 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-P2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving through a in-depth comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the E-M1 matches up versus the E-P2 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Olympus E-P2

 E-M1 E-P2 
LaunchedOctober 2013April 2010More recent by 43 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k230kCrisper screen (+807k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Olympus E-M1

 E-P2 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Olympus E-P2

 E-M1 E-P2 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P2 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M1 has exterior measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Olympus E-P2 has measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M1 and Olympus E-P2 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are using at that moment. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the E-M1 versus the E-P2.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P2 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 and E-P2 is 71 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P2 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very hard to picture the contrast in sensor measurements purely by seeing technical specs. The graphic underneath will help offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 and E-P2.

As you have seen, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You can count on the Olympus E-M1 to produce more detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures far more aggressively. The fresher E-M1 provides a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography info
Olympus E-P2 Portrait photography info
71
has manual focus
high flash sync (1/320 seconds)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
saves RAW formats
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
saves RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M1
Street photography with Olympus E-P2
78
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
offers focus by touch
environment proof
lighter than competition (497g)
very good ISO range (25,600)
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography details
Olympus E-P2 Sports photography details
70
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
terrible battery (350 CIPA)
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
not so great battery (300 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M1
Travel photography with Olympus E-P2
65
lighter than competition (497 grams)
environment proof
offers focus by touch
decent megapixels (16MP)
terrible battery (350 CIPA)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
43
does not have Timelapse mode
not so great battery (300 shots)
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography details
Olympus E-P2 Landscape photography details
73
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
terrible battery (350 per charge)
60
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (300 per charge)
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging features
Olympus E-P2 Vlogging features
36
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes microphone port
lighter than competition (497 grams)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone socket
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-P2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Olympus E-P2
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Olympus PEN E-P2
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Olympus PEN E-P2
Type Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2013-10-28 2010-04-22
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePIC VII TruePic V
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4032 x 3024
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 81 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,037k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech - HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/320 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 497g (1.10 pounds) 355g (0.78 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 56
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 21.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 10.4
DXO Low light rating 757 505
Other
Battery life 350 pictures 300 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 BLS-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $799 $799