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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic GH2

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 front
Portability
70
Imaging
51
Features
65
Overall
56

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic GH2 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
  • Announced April 2010
  • Superseded the Olympus E-P1
  • Replacement is Olympus E-P3
Panasonic GH2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 442g - 124 x 90 x 76mm
  • Announced March 2011
  • Old Model is Panasonic GH1
  • Successor is Panasonic GH3
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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic GH2 Overview

Below, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-P2 versus Panasonic GH2, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a big difference between the image resolutions of the E-P2 (12MP) and GH2 (16MP) but they come with the exact same sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-P2 was manufactured 11 months earlier than the GH2 and they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-P2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-P2 scores vs the GH2 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Panasonic GH2

 E-P2 GH2 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH2 over the Olympus E-P2

 GH2 E-P2 
AnnouncedMarch 2011April 2010More modern by 11 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic GH2

 E-P2 GH2 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic GH2 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P2 features exterior measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GH2 has measurements of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") along with a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-P2 versus Panasonic GH2 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the E-P2 vs the GH2.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic GH2 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-P2 and GH2 is 86 and 70 respectively.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic GH2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic GH2 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very hard to picture the contrast between sensor sizes only by reading specs. The picture below will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P2 and GH2.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Panasonic GH2 to offer you extra detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-P2 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic GH2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic GH2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic GH2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-P2
Portrait photography with Panasonic GH2
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
70
manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Street photography features
Panasonic GH2 Street photography features
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
68
fully articulated screen
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Sports photography details
Panasonic GH2 Sports photography details
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
low fps (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (300 shots)
no phase detect AF
46
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
low frames per second (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
bad battery power (330 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Travel photography information
Panasonic GH2 Travel photography information
43
missing Timelapse function
not so great battery power (300 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
62
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse mode
bad battery power (330 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-P2
Landscape photography with Panasonic GH2
60
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
not so great battery power (300 shots)
missing Timelapse function
60
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
bad battery power (330 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic GH2 Vlogging highlights
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone socket
71
display is selfie friendly
touch screen
supports face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external mic port
lack of image stabilization
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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic GH2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic GH2
 Olympus PEN E-P2Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-P2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2010-04-22 2011-03-23
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V Venus Engine FHD
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 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 160
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 15.60 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (24, 30, 60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355g (0.78 pounds) 442g (0.97 pounds)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 124 x 90 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 60
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 21.2
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 11.3
DXO Low light rating 505 655
Other
Battery life 300 shots 330 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $799 $1,000