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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL2

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL2 Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(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
  • Announced July 2009
  • Later Model is Olympus E-P2
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
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL3
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL2 Overview

Following is a in depth analysis of the Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL2, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras and both of them are created by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the E-PL2 (12MP) is fairly close and they use the exact same sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-P1 was unveiled 18 months earlier than the E-PL2 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going through a in-depth comparison, below is a brief view of how the E-P1 matches up against the E-PL2 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Olympus E-PL2

 E-P1 E-PL2 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Olympus E-P1

 E-PL2 E-P1 
IntroducedFebruary 2011July 2009More modern by 18 months
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Olympus E-PL2

 E-P1 E-PL2 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL2 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P1 offers outside measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") along with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) and the Olympus E-PL2 has measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL2 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached at that time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-P1 versus the E-PL2.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL2 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-P1 and E-PL2 is 86 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL2 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is tough to envision the difference in sensor sizes merely by looking through specs. The image here may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P1 and E-PL2.

All in all, each of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the same MP and you can expect comparable quality of photos although you may want to consider the age of the cameras into account. The more aged E-P1 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-PL2 as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P1
Street photography with Olympus E-PL2
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P1
Sports photography with Olympus E-PL2
40
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
low MP (12MP)
not so great battery (300 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (280 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Travel photography information
Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography information
43
doesn't have Time Lapse function
not so great battery (300 shots)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
51
built-in flash
no Timelapse mode
not so great battery life (280 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-PL2 as a Landscape photography camera
60
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low MP (12MP)
not so great battery (300 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
61
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery life (280 CIPA)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Vlogging details
Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging details
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic port
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
does not have a selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone support
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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Olympus E-PL2
 Olympus PEN E-P1Olympus PEN E-PL2
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-P1 Olympus PEN E-PL2
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2009-07-29 2011-02-11
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic V 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 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4032 x 3024
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 10.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video 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 355 grams (0.78 pounds) 362 grams (0.80 pounds)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 55
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 21.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 10.2
DXO Low light rating 536 573
Other
Battery life 300 shots 280 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $182 $0