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Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SP-820UZ

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ front
Portability
69
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Updated by Olympus E-PL3
Olympus SP-820UZ
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-896mm (F3.4-5.7) lens
  • 485g - 117 x 78 x 93mm
  • Introduced August 2012
  • Older Model is Olympus SP-820UZ
  • Refreshed by Olympus SP-820UZ
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SP-820UZ, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are built by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the SP-820UZ (14MP) is fairly similar but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and SP-820UZ (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL2 was unveiled 18 months prior to the SP-820UZ making them a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SP-820UZ being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a full comparison, here is a concise summary of how the E-PL2 matches up against the SP-820UZ in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Olympus SP-820UZ

 E-PL2 SP-820UZ 
Focus manually Dial precise focus

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-820UZ over the Olympus E-PL2

 SP-820UZ E-PL2 
IntroducedAugust 2012February 2011Fresher by 18 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Olympus SP-820UZ

 E-PL2 SP-820UZ 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Display resolution460k460kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL2 features outer dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) and the Olympus SP-820UZ has sizing of 117mm x 78mm x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") having a weight of 485 grams (1.07 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SP-820UZ in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are employing at that time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL2 versus the SP-820UZ.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SP-820UZ size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL2 and SP-820UZ is 85 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SP-820UZ top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing merely by reviewing specs. The photograph here will give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL2 and SP-820UZ.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL2 with its larger sensor will make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Olympus SP-820UZ will offer you more detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images a bit more aggressively. The older E-PL2 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SP-820UZ sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL2
Portrait photography with Olympus SP-820UZ
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
34
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
supports face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography details
Olympus SP-820UZ Street photography details
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no moving screen
37
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
heavier than others (485 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography highlights
Olympus SP-820UZ Sports photography highlights
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
max fps low (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery life (280 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
33
amazing zoom range (22-896mm 40.7 x zoom)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL2
Travel photography with Olympus SP-820UZ
51
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse mode
terrible battery life (280 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
55
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (22mm)
great reach (896mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
heavier than others (485g)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography details
Olympus SP-820UZ Landscape photography details
61
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (280 per charge)
lack of Timelapse mode
35
pretty wide (22mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
megapixel count decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
lack of manual mode
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging highlights
Olympus SP-820UZ Vlogging highlights
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focusing
does not posses selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone socket
25
pretty wide (22mm)
supports face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
does not have external mic port
heavier than others (485 grams)
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Olympus SP-820UZ
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL2 Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-02-11 2012-08-21
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 22-896mm (40.7x)
Max aperture - f/3.4-5.7
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 15.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 180 (30, 240 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
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 362 gr (0.80 lb) 485 gr (1.07 lb)
Physical dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 117 x 78 x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 280 photos -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $0 $299