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Olympus E-P2 vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Olympus E-P2 vs Sony NEX-5 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
  • Released April 2010
  • Replaced the Olympus E-P1
  • Successor is Olympus E-P3
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Launched June 2010
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-5N
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Olympus E-P2 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

Following is a in depth overview of the Olympus E-P2 vs Sony NEX-5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-P2 (12MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is relatively well matched but the E-P2 (Four Thirds) and NEX-5 (APS-C) have totally different sensor size.

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The E-P2 was brought out at a similar time to the NEX-5 so they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the E-P2 scores versus the NEX-5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Sony NEX-5

 E-P2 NEX-5 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Olympus E-P2

 NEX-5 E-P2 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P2 and Sony NEX-5

 E-P2 NEX-5 
LaunchedApril 2010June 2010Similar age
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Olympus E-P2 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P2 comes with outside measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") having a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5 has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-P2 vs Sony NEX-5 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the E-P2 against the NEX-5.

Olympus E-P2 vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P2 and NEX-5 is 86 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-P2 vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizes only by reading through technical specs. The image here should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P2 and NEX-5.

As you can tell, both of those cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-P2 due to its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field more difficult and the Sony NEX-5 will give extra detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs more aggressively.

Olympus E-P2 vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P2 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Portrait photography info
Sony NEX-5 Portrait photography info
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
72
you can focus manually
good resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Street photography features
Sony NEX-5 Street photography features
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
76
screen tilts up and down
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P2
Sports photography with Sony NEX-5
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
max frames per second very slow (3.0 fps)
low megapixels (12MP)
low battery (300 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
52
good resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
no image stabilization
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Travel photography factors
Sony NEX-5 Travel photography factors
43
missing Timelapse recording
low battery (300 per charge)
low megapixels (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
59
good resolution (14MP)
does not have Time Lapse function
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Landscape photography camera
60
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
low battery (300 per charge)
missing Timelapse recording
68
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P2
Vlogging with Sony NEX-5
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone jack
28
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not feature selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
does not have mic port
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Olympus E-P2 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P2 and Sony NEX-5
 Olympus PEN E-P2Sony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-P2 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2010-04-22 2010-06-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic V Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Total lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 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), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG AVCHD
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 355 gr (0.78 lbs) 287 gr (0.63 lbs)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 69
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 22.2
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 12.2
DXO Low light score 505 796
Other
Battery life 300 images 330 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $799 $599