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Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL2

Portability
80
Imaging
53
Features
84
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL2 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 469g - 124 x 85 x 45mm
  • Introduced February 2015
  • Replaced the Olympus E-M5
  • New Model is Olympus E-M5 III
Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Released February 2011
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Updated by Olympus E-PL3
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL2 Overview

Here, we are matching up the Olympus E-M5 II and Olympus E-PL2, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are manufactured by Olympus. There exists a crucial gap between the image resolutions of the E-M5 II (16MP) and E-PL2 (12MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

Photography Glossary

The E-M5 II was introduced 4 years later than the E-PL2 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-M5 II grades vs the E-PL2 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 II over the Olympus E-PL2

 E-M5 II E-PL2 
ReleasedFebruary 2015February 2011More recent by 49 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1037k460kSharper display (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Olympus E-M5 II

 E-PL2 E-M5 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 II and Olympus E-PL2

 E-M5 II E-PL2 
Manual focus More precise focus
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL2 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M5 II offers physical dimensions of 124mm x 85mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") and a weight of 469 grams (1.03 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL2 has measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M5 II and Olympus E-PL2 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the E-M5 II compared to the E-PL2.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL2 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 II and E-PL2 is 80 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL2 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be tough to envision the contrast between sensor measurements just by reading through a spec sheet. The visual below might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 II and E-PL2.

Clearly, both of these cameras come with the identical sensor size but not the same resolution. You should anticipate the Olympus E-M5 II to resolve extra detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more recent E-M5 II is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL2
71
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-PL2 as a Street photography camera
82
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
includes touch to focus
environment proofing
good ISO range (25,600)
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Sports photography with Olympus E-PL2
65
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
environment proofing
not so great battery (310 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (280 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Travel photography with Olympus E-PL2
74
environment proofing
includes touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
display is selfie friendly
not so great battery (310 shots)
51
built-in flash
no Timelapse function
not so great battery power (280 per charge)
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL2
74
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
not so great battery (310 CIPA)
61
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (280 CIPA)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Vlogging highlights
Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging highlights
82
display is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has microphone jack
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone socket
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 II and Olympus E-PL2
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIOlympus PEN E-PL2
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Olympus PEN E-PL2
Category Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2015-02-06 2011-02-11
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII Truepic V
Sensor type MOS 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 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4032 x 3024
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 81 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 10.00 m
Flash options Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, 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 469 gr (1.03 lbs) 362 gr (0.80 lbs)
Physical dimensions 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 55
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 21.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 10.2
DXO Low light rating 896 573
Other
Battery life 310 pictures 280 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $699 $0