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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P2

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P2 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Launched April 2012
  • New Model is Olympus E-M5 II
Olympus E-P2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Revealed April 2010
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-P1
  • Later Model is Olympus E-P3
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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P2 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus E-M5 versus Olympus E-P2, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are produced by Olympus. There exists a sizeable gap between the image resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and E-P2 (12MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-M5 was announced 2 years later than the E-P2 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-P2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the E-M5 grades against the E-P2 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Olympus E-P2

 E-M5 E-P2 
RevealedApril 2012April 2010More recent by 25 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution610k230kCrisper display (+380k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Olympus E-M5

 E-P2 E-M5 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus E-P2

 E-M5 E-P2 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P2 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you will need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-M5 enjoys external measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-P2 has specifications of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") having a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M5 versus Olympus E-P2 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have at that moment. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the E-M5 against the E-P2.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P2 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 and E-P2 is 81 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P2 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very tough to envision the difference between sensor measurements only by checking technical specs. The graphic underneath should give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 and E-P2.

As you have seen, both the cameras feature the identical sensor size but not the same megapixels. You should anticipate the Olympus E-M5 to resolve more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos way more aggressively. The more modern E-M5 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M5
Portrait photography with Olympus E-P2
71
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
saves RAW formats
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography advice
Olympus E-P2 Street photography advice
82
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
includes touch to focus
environment proof
great ISO range (25,600)
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography highlights
Olympus E-P2 Sports photography highlights
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
environment proof
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
low battery power (300 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography features
Olympus E-P2 Travel photography features
66
environment proof
includes touch to focus
MP count good (16MP)
lack of Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
43
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low battery power (300 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography info
Olympus E-P2 Landscape photography info
73
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
lack of Timelapse mode
60
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
low battery power (300 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Vlogging advice
Olympus E-P2 Vlogging advice
34
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone support
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic support
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Olympus E-P2
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Olympus PEN E-P2
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Olympus PEN E-P2
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2012-04-30 2010-04-22
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI TruePic V
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4032 x 3024
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 610 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 9.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425 grams (0.94 pounds) 355 grams (0.78 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 71 56
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 21.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 10.4
DXO Low light rating 826 505
Other
Battery life 360 images 300 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 BLS-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $799 $799