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Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus E-PM1

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus E-PM1 Key Specs

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
  • Introduced April 2010
  • Replaced the Olympus E-P1
  • Replacement is Olympus E-P3
Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Introduced November 2011
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PM2
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Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus E-PM1 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Olympus E-P2 versus Olympus E-PM1, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras and both are designed by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-P2 (12MP) and the E-PM1 (12MP) is very well matched and they feature the same exact sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-P2 was introduced 19 months before the E-PM1 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going through a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the E-P2 grades versus the E-PM1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Olympus E-PM1

 E-P2 E-PM1 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Olympus E-P2

 E-PM1 E-P2 
IntroducedNovember 2011April 2010More recent by 19 months
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P2 and Olympus E-PM1

 E-P2 E-PM1 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus E-PM1 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P2 has outside dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") and a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PM1 has dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-P2 versus Olympus E-PM1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose during that time. Following is the front view size comparison of the E-P2 and the E-PM1.

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus E-PM1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-P2 and E-PM1 is 86 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus E-PM1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus E-PM1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very difficult to visualize the gap between sensor measurements only by looking at technical specs. The photograph here should offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P2 and E-PM1.

As you can tell, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the same exact MP therefore you can expect similar quality of photos but you will need to take the launch date of the products into consideration. The older E-P2 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus E-PM1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus E-PM1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus E-PM1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Portrait photography advice
Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography advice
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
supports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-P2
Street photography with Olympus E-PM1
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is fixed
75
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Sports photography info
Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography info
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
low frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
terrible battery (300 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-PM1 as a Travel photography camera
43
doesn't have Timelapse recording
terrible battery (300 per charge)
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
45
missing Time Lapse function
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Landscape photography information
Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography information
60
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (300 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
65
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12MP)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Vlogging advice
Olympus E-PM1 Vlogging advice
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone socket
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing external mic support
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Olympus E-P2 vs Olympus E-PM1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P2 and Olympus E-PM1
 Olympus PEN E-P2Olympus PEN E-PM1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-P2 Olympus PEN E-PM1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2010-04-22 2011-11-23
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V TruePic VI
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4032 x 3024
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 35
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology 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 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 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
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180s 1/160s
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355g (0.78 lbs) 265g (0.58 lbs)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 52
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 21.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 10.3
DXO Low light rating 505 499
Other
Battery life 300 photographs 330 photographs
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 feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Price at release $799 $499