Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus Tough-3000

Below, we will be looking at the Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus Tough-3000, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Waterproof and they are both designed by Olympus. The resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the Tough-3000 (12MP) is pretty well matched but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and Tough-3000 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL2 was announced 14 months later than the Tough-3000 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus Tough-3000 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a full comparison, below is a brief summary of how the E-PL2 matches up vs the Tough-3000 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN E-PL2 & Olympus Stylus Tough-3000. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PL2 Gallery & Olympus Tough-3000 Gallery.

If you're going to carry your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL2 has got outside 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) whilst the Olympus Tough-3000 has dimensions of 96mm x 65mm x 23mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus Tough-3000 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the E-PL2 versus the Tough-3000.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL2 and Tough-3000 is 85 and 94 respectively.

Normally, it is hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizing simply by checking a spec sheet. The photograph below might give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL2 and Tough-3000.

Clearly, the two cameras posses the exact same megapixels albeit different sensor sizing. The E-PL2 includes the bigger sensor which should make obtaining shallower DOF simpler. The more modern E-PL2 provides an advantage with regard to sensor technology.