Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FP2

Lets look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic FP2, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Ultracompact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the FP2 (14MP) is very comparable but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and FP2 (1/2.3") provide different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL2 was announced 14 months after the FP2 making them a generation away from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FP2 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going right into a complete comparison, here is a quick summary of how the E-PL2 scores vs the FP2 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PL2 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP2. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL2 Gallery and Panasonic FP2 Gallery.

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL2 offers outer dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) and the Panasonic FP2 has proportions of 99mm x 59mm x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") along with a weight of 151 grams (0.33 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic FP2 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the E-PL2 versus the FP2.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL2 and FP2 is 85 and 95 respectively.

Generally, it is tough to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by seeing a spec sheet. The picture here will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL2 and FP2.

Clearly, each of these cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL2 with its larger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic FP2 will show extra detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more modern E-PL2 should have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.