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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FP7

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FP7 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL3
Panasonic FP7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 147g - 101 x 59 x 18mm
  • Released January 2011
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FP7 Overview

On this page, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic FP7, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a substantial gap among the image resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and FP7 (16MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and FP7 (1/2.3") have different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL2 was brought out 2 months later than the FP7 and they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FP7 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-PL2 grades vs the FP7 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Panasonic FP7

 E-PL2 FP7 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FP7 over the Olympus E-PL2

 FP7 E-PL2 
Screen dimensions3.5"3"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic FP7

 E-PL2 FP7 
ReleasedFebruary 2011January 2011Same age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FP7 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL2 comes with exterior 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 Panasonic FP7 has sizing of 101mm x 59mm x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") and a weight of 147 grams (0.32 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic FP7 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the E-PL2 compared to the FP7.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FP7 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL2 and FP7 is 85 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FP7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FP7 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its tough to imagine the difference in sensor measurements simply by seeing a spec sheet. The visual here may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL2 and FP7.

Clearly, both cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL2 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Panasonic FP7 will provide more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FP7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FP7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FP7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FP7 as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
34
good megapixels (16MP)
has face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL2
Street photography with Panasonic FP7
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
fixed screen
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
boasts touch focus
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
more heavy than competition (147 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FP7 as a Sports photography camera
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (280 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
44
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
better than average battery (240 per charge)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography advice
Panasonic FP7 Travel photography advice
51
flash built-in
missing Timelapse function
bad battery pack (280 CIPA)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
63
better than average battery (240 CIPA)
boasts touch focus
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than competition (147g)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography info
Panasonic FP7 Landscape photography info
61
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (280 CIPA)
missing Timelapse function
41
big screen (3.5 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
better than average battery (240 CIPA)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not available
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging info
Panasonic FP7 Vlogging info
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
does not have a selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone socket
29
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
wide angle not good (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone port
more heavy than competition (147g)
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FP7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic FP7
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Introduced 2011-02-11 2011-01-05
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
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 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 35-140mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focus distance - 10cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3.5"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Touch Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m 4.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 362 gr (0.80 lbs) 147 gr (0.32 lbs)
Physical dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 101 x 59 x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 280 images 240 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $0 $227