Olympus E-P2 vs Sony A380

Let's examine more in depth at the Olympus E-P2 and Sony A380, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-P2 (12MP) and the A380 (14MP) is fairly close but the E-P2 (Four Thirds) and A380 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-P2 was launched 9 months later than the A380 so they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-P2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A380 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving in to a in depth comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the E-P2 grades vs the A380 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-P2 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A380. The complete galleries are available at Olympus E-P2 Gallery & Sony A380 Gallery.

When you are going to lug around your camera often, you need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-P2 offers outside dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) and the Sony A380 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 519 grams (1.14 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-P2 and Sony A380 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-P2 versus the A380.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-P2 and A380 is 86 and 68 respectively.

Quite often, it is hard to see the gap in sensor measurements simply by researching a spec sheet. The photograph below will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P2 and A380.

As you can see, both the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-P2 due to its smaller sensor will make getting shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony A380 will provide you with greater detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos much more aggressively. The more modern E-P2 will have an edge with regard to sensor tech.