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Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus E-PL3

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus E-PL3 Key Specs

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
  • Announced April 2010
  • Replaced the Olympus E-P1
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-P3
Olympus E-PL3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 313g - 110 x 64 x 37mm
  • Released September 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL2
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Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus E-PL3 Overview

Here is a complete analysis of the Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus E-PL3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras and they are both created by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-P2 (12MP) and the E-PL3 (12MP) is very close and both cameras boast the same sensor size (Four Thirds).

Photography Glossary

The E-P2 was introduced 17 months earlier than the E-PL3 making them a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a quick summary of how the E-P2 scores versus the E-PL3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Olympus E-PL3

 E-P2 E-PL3 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Olympus E-P2

 E-PL3 E-P2 
ReleasedSeptember 2011April 2010Fresher by 17 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P2 and Olympus E-PL3

 E-P2 E-PL3 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus E-PL3 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P2 has outer dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) and the Olympus E-PL3 has sizing of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus E-PL3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the E-P2 against the E-PL3.

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus E-PL3 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P2 and E-PL3 is 86 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus E-PL3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus E-PL3 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizing merely by viewing a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P2 and E-PL3.

Clearly, each of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions and the same exact megapixels so you can expect comparable quality of files but you have to factor the age of the cameras into account. The older E-P2 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus E-PL3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus E-PL3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus E-PL3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-PL3 as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
supports RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P2
Street photography with Olympus E-PL3
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no articulating screen
84
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Sports photography factors
Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography factors
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
low battery power (300 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12MP)
not so great battery pack (300 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Travel photography info
Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography info
43
missing Timelapse mode
low battery power (300 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
44
lack of Timelapse mode
not so great battery pack (300 CIPA)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Landscape photography details
Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography details
60
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
low battery power (300 CIPA)
missing Timelapse mode
61
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low resolution (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (300 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Vlogging information
Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging information
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone port
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone socket
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Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus E-PL3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P2 and Olympus E-PL3
 Olympus PEN E-P2Olympus PEN E-PL3
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-P2 Olympus PEN E-PL3
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2010-04-22 2011-09-20
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic V Truepic VI
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 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4032 x 3024
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 35
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 355g (0.78 lb) 313g (0.69 lb)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 52
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 20.9
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 10.3
DXO Low light score 505 499
Other
Battery life 300 images 300 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail cost $799 $399