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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FX580

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
29
Overall
32

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FX580 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
  • Revealed February 2011
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL3
Panasonic FX580
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 167g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Launched January 2009
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FX550
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FX580 Overview

Below, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic FX580, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the FX580 (12MP) is pretty similar but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and FX580 (1/2.3") come with different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL2 was brought out 2 years later than the FX580 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FX580 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the E-PL2 matches up versus the FX580 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Panasonic FX580

 E-PL2 FX580 
LaunchedFebruary 2011January 2009More recent by 25 months
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX580 over the Olympus E-PL2

 FX580 E-PL2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic FX580

 E-PL2 FX580 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FX580 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL2 provides external dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) and the Panasonic FX580 has sizing of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic FX580 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the E-PL2 compared to the FX580.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FX580 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL2 and FX580 is 85 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FX580 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FX580 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements merely by going over specs. The photograph here might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL2 and FX580.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras have got the exact same megapixel count albeit different sensor measurements. The E-PL2 has the bigger sensor which is going to make getting bokeh easier. The more modern E-PL2 should have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FX580 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FX580 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FX580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography info
Panasonic FX580 Portrait photography info
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
26
includes face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
low resolution (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL2
Street photography with Panasonic FX580
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FX580 as a Sports photography camera
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery (280 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic FX580 Travel photography highlights
51
flash built-in
no Timelapse function
not so great battery (280 shots)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
58
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
low resolution (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FX580 as a Landscape photography camera
61
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery (280 per charge)
no Timelapse function
36
fairly wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not available
low resolution (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging features
Panasonic FX580 Vlogging features
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone socket
30
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic support
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FX580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic FX580
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-FX550
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2011-02-11 2009-01-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-125mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 6.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 362 grams (0.80 lbs) 167 grams (0.37 lbs)
Dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail price $0 $499