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Olympus E-P2 vs Samsung NX500

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
 
Samsung NX500 front
Portability
87
Imaging
68
Features
80
Overall
72

Olympus E-P2 vs Samsung NX500 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
  • Launched April 2010
  • Older Model is Olympus E-P1
  • New Model is Olympus E-P3
Samsung NX500
(Full Review)
  • 28MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Expand to 51200)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 287g - 120 x 64 x 43mm
  • Announced February 2015
  • Succeeded the Samsung NX300
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Olympus E-P2 vs Samsung NX500 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus E-P2 and Samsung NX500, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by companies Olympus and Samsung. There exists a sizeable gap among the resolutions of the E-P2 (12MP) and NX500 (28MP) and the E-P2 (Four Thirds) and NX500 (APS-C) possess different sensor sizing.

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The E-P2 was announced 5 years before the NX500 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving through a in-depth comparison, below is a brief summary of how the E-P2 scores vs the NX500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Samsung NX500

 E-P2 NX500 

Reasons to pick Samsung NX500 over the Olympus E-P2

 NX500 E-P2 
AnnouncedFebruary 2015April 2010More recent by 58 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1036k230kCrisper screen (+806k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-P2 and Samsung NX500

 E-P2 NX500 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus E-P2 vs Samsung NX500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P2 features 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 Samsung NX500 has measurements of 120mm x 64mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-P2 and Samsung NX500 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the E-P2 versus the NX500.

Olympus E-P2 vs Samsung NX500 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-P2 and NX500 is 86 and 87 respectively.

Olympus E-P2 vs Samsung NX500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Samsung NX500 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements purely by viewing a spec sheet. The visual underneath might give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P2 and NX500.

As you can see, each of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-P2 with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF tougher and the Samsung NX500 will render more detail with its extra 16MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older E-P2 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-P2 vs Samsung NX500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Samsung NX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P2 vs Samsung NX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Portrait photography camera
Samsung NX500 as a Portrait photography camera
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
80
has manual focus
MP count high (28 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Street photography details
Samsung NX500 Street photography details
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is fixed
81
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
offers touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Sports photography information
Samsung NX500 Sports photography information
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
slow fps (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery pack (300 shots)
has no phase detect AF
75
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
MP count high (28MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
sensor has phase detect AF
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Travel photography camera
Samsung NX500 as a Travel photography camera
43
lack of Timelapse mode
not so great battery pack (300 per charge)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
78
connects via bluetooth
offers touch to focus
MP count high (28MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Landscape photography info
Samsung NX500 Landscape photography info
60
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery pack (300 per charge)
lack of Timelapse mode
80
has manual focus
switch lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
MP count high (28MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
does not have anti aliasing filter
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Vlogging camera
Samsung NX500 as a Vlogging camera
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone jack
34
touchscreen
comes with face detect focusing
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
lack of microphone support
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Olympus E-P2 vs Samsung NX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P2 and Samsung NX500
 Olympus PEN E-P2Samsung NX500
General Information
Company Olympus Samsung
Model type Olympus PEN E-P2 Samsung NX500
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2010-04-22 2015-02-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic V DRIMe 5
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 28MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 6480 x 4320
Maximum native ISO 6400 25600
Maximum enhanced ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 209
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Samsung NX
Available lenses 107 32
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dots 1,036k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec 9.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt 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) Smart flash, auto, auto w/redeye reduction, fill flash, fill w/redeye reduction, 1st-curtain, 2nd-curtain, off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p), 4096 x 2160 (24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 4096x2160
Video format Motion JPEG H.265
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 lb) 287g (0.63 lb)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 120 x 64 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 87
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 24.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 13.9
DXO Low light rating 505 1379
Other
Battery life 300 photos 370 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 - 30 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $799 $800