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Olympus E-P2 vs Sony a5100

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
 
Sony Alpha a5100 front
Portability
89
Imaging
66
Features
74
Overall
69

Olympus E-P2 vs Sony a5100 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
  • Introduced April 2010
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-P1
  • Later Model is Olympus E-P3
Sony a5100
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 283g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Released August 2014
  • Earlier Model is Sony a5000
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-P2 vs Sony a5100 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Olympus E-P2 versus Sony a5100, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a big gap among the image resolutions of the E-P2 (12MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the E-P2 (Four Thirds) and a5100 (APS-C) provide different sensor measurements.

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The E-P2 was manufactured 5 years before the a5100 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the E-P2 scores against the a5100 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Sony a5100

 E-P2 a5100 

Reasons to pick Sony a5100 over the Olympus E-P2

 a5100 E-P2 
ReleasedAugust 2014April 2010More recent by 52 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution922k230kCrisper screen (+692k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-P2 and Sony a5100

 E-P2 a5100 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus E-P2 vs Sony a5100 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P2 offers external 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 a5100 has proportions of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-P2 versus Sony a5100 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you select at that time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-P2 against the a5100.

Olympus E-P2 vs Sony a5100 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-P2 and a5100 is 86 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-P2 vs Sony a5100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Sony a5100 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to imagine the gap in sensor measurements only by viewing a spec sheet. The visual below will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P2 and a5100.

Clearly, both of those cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-P2 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Sony a5100 will render greater detail due to its extra 12MP. Higher resolution will let you crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The older E-P2 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P2 vs Sony a5100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Sony a5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P2 vs Sony a5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Portrait photography advice
Sony a5100 Portrait photography advice
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
72
you can focus manually
MP count good (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
exports RAW files
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P2 as a Street photography camera
Sony a5100 as a Street photography camera
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
82
screen tilts
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
supports focus via touch
good high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Sports photography advice
Sony a5100 Sports photography advice
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
bad battery power (300 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
68
MP count good (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
good battery power (400 shots)
supports phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-P2
Travel photography with Sony a5100
43
lack of Timelapse function
bad battery power (300 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
80
good battery power (400 CIPA)
supports focus via touch
MP count good (24MP)
flash built-in
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Landscape photography factors
Sony a5100 Landscape photography factors
60
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
bad battery power (300 per charge)
lack of Timelapse function
79
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
good battery power (400 shots)
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Vlogging features
Sony a5100 Vlogging features
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone support
34
touchscreen enabled
has face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
lack of microphone jack
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Olympus E-P2 vs Sony a5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P2 and Sony a5100
 Olympus PEN E-P2Sony Alpha a5100
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-P2 Sony Alpha a5100
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2010-04-22 2014-08-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic V Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 179
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Total lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 secs -
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 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (120p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 355 grams (0.78 pounds) 283 grams (0.62 pounds)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 80
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 12.7
DXO Low light score 505 1347
Other
Battery life 300 images 400 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot))
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $799 $448