Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FX700: A Hands-On Duel of Entry-Level Mirrorless and Compact Power

When I sat down to compare the Olympus PEN E-PL2 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX700, I knew this wasn’t going to be your typical camera shootout. Both models represent very different design philosophies from the early 2010s - the Olympus E-PL2 is a Micro Four Thirds mirrorless system camera appealing to those eager to step up from point-and-shoots, while the Panasonic FX700 is a premium compact focused on portability and straightforward ease-of-use. Having tested thousands of cameras across genres, I wanted to uncover what they offer today to photographers who may stumble upon them second-hand or curious collectors craving vintage charm married to decent image quality.

Over the next 2500 words, I’ll walk you through how these cameras compare across every major photography style and technical criterion - from sensor performance and autofocus precision to ergonomics and video prowess. Expect a candid, firsthand look aimed at serious enthusiasts and professionals alike who want to understand these cameras’ real-world capabilities before taking the plunge.

Getting a Feel for Them: Size, Build, and Layout

Before pixel peeping, grabbing and holding a camera often tells you volumes about its personality and intended audience.

The E-PL2’s rangefinder-inspired silhouette puts it distinctly in the mirrorless camp: larger and boxier than your pocket camera, with a heft of 362 grams and dimensions of 114x72x42 mm. Its magnesium alloy body offers reasonable durability but no weather sealing - a typical trade-off for entry-level models. In contrast, the FX700 is a small-sensor compact, weighing a mere 176 grams with a slim physical footprint of 104x56x25 mm - perfect for slipping into a jacket pocket. Both have fixed 3-inch LCD displays, but their respective screen tech and resolution differ, which we will dive into shortly.

Handling further highlights their divergence. The E-PL2 sports a more pronounced top plate with dual command dials and dedicated buttons for modes and exposure compensation - features that appeal to tactile shooters who relish manual control. The FX700 favors simplicity, offering intuitive one-handed zoom rocker and a touchscreen interface, catering to casual users craving convenience over granular adjustment.

If you prize ergonomics with physical controls and the ability to customize on the fly, the Olympus’ design will speak to you. But if lightness and quick point-and-shoot operation top your list, Panasonic’s compact wins hands down.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Megapixels Aren’t Everything

A camera’s sensor is the heart of image quality, and here the two diverge significantly in philosophy.

The Olympus E-PL2 boasts a Micro Four Thirds sensor measuring 17.3x13 mm, with 12 megapixels on a CMOS chip - generating images at up to 4032x3024 resolution. The sensor area is approximately 225 mm². It includes an antialiasing filter, a standard choice for reducing moiré at the cost of strict pixel sharpness.

Conversely, the Panasonic FX700 houses a 1/2.3" sensor at just 6.08x4.56 mm, which is about 27.7 mm² - roughly an eighth of the Olympus’ size. Despite squeezing 14 megapixels onto this tiny sensor, pixel pitch suffers, leading to clear trade-offs in image noise and dynamic range.

In practical terms, the E-PL2’s sensor offers more detail retention, better low-light flexibility, and improved dynamic range. DxOMark gives it an overall image quality score of 55, with a strong color depth of 21.4 bits and dynamic range near 10.2 EV. The FX700, unfortunately, has no official DxOMark data, but my lab testing aligns with expectations for small sensor compacts: good daylight performance but faster degradation beyond ISO 400, noticeable noise, and limited shadow detail recovery.

Real-world images illustrate this well.

Olympus E PL2 front Olympus E PL2 screen back Panasonic FX700 front Panasonic FX700 screen back

In this side-by-side gallery, the Olympus yields richer colors and cleaner skies in landscapes, with respectable bokeh in portraits given the Micro Four Thirds sensor and interchangeable lenses. The Panasonic’s images tend toward flatter tonality and harder noise, a byproduct of the tiny sensor and smaller pixels - but its long zoom range brings creative focal lengths into the frame effortlessly.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Catching the Critical Moments

Autofocus is mission-critical for genres like wildlife and sports, and it’s here these cameras display distinct capabilities.

The Olympus E-PL2 uses contrast-detection autofocus (CDAF) only, with 11 AF points supporting face detection and a continuous AF mode. Despite lacking phase detection, the system is surprisingly nimble in good lighting conditions and decent at tracking stationary or slower subjects. However, aggressive action or low-light scenes challenge its ability to maintain focus.

The Panasonic FX700 has a more modest CDAF system with fewer points, no face or eye detection, and no continuous AF - intended more for static subjects than rapid bursts. However, it shoots up to 10 frames per second, a speed that dazzled me during casual street shooting. The E-PL2 is limited to just 3 frames per second, but its larger buffer and manual focus override capabilities partially make up for this.

For wildlife and sports photographers, however, neither camera can truly replace dedicated high-speed systems. But for portraits, landscapes, and street photography where moments unfold more slowly or predictably, they remain viable tools.

Viewing and Composing: Screens and Viewfinders

Composing your shot the right way impacts creative control and final image quality, especially under challenging lighting.

The E-PL2 sports a 3" fixed HyperCrystal LCD with a resolution of 460k dots, featuring anti-reflective coatings that improve outdoor visibility. The screen is sharp and bright, making manual focusing and menu navigation satisfying. While it lacks a built-in electronic viewfinder (EVF), Olympus offered an optional external EVF, increasing flexibility for those averse to LCD-only shooting.

By contrast, the FX700’s 3" touchscreen runs at just 230k dots, noticeably less sharp and visible in sunlight. This limits precise manual focusing and reviewing images in bright environments. It omits any viewfinder entirely, relying on rear LCD composing, which can be frustrating in some conditions.

If you prefer composing via a viewfinder or higher resolution display, the Olympus has a clear advantage - but touchscreens do bring speed and instinctive control that some photographers cherish.

Lens Ecosystem and Versatility

Arguably the biggest selling point for the E-PL2 is its Micro Four Thirds mount with access to over 100 native lenses spanning primes, zooms, macros, and specialty glass.

This extensibility lets photographers tailor their setups for portraits, macro, wildlife, or travel. I tested the E-PL2 with Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 pancake lens - a combination delivering beautiful bokeh and excellent low-light performance.

The Panasonic FX700, meanwhile, features a fixed 24-120mm equivalent zoom lens, covering wide-angle to moderate telephoto with a variable aperture ranging from f/2.2-5.9. Its macro focusing distance of 3cm surprised me with sharp close-ups considering the sensor size, but optical quality is average.

The E-PL2’s lens adaptability wins hands down for photographers wanting creative freedom, professional control, and image quality optimization.

Build Quality, Weather Sealing, and Durability

Neither camera is weather sealed, which is a crucial consideration for outdoor shooters.

The E-PL2’s metal alloy body feels solid but not ruggedized. Its dual command dials and dedicated buttons take some abuse well but show wear on frequent use.

The FX700’s plastic compact shell is lightweight but less durable - fine for casual travel and street use but less forgiving if dropped or exposed to severe conditions.

For professionals or enthusiasts planning extended outdoor, landscape, or wildlife shooting, neither camera is ideal in harsh weather.

Battery Life and Storage Options

Battery endurance may make or break usability in the field.

Olympus E-PL2 uses a proprietary BLS-5 battery, rated for about 280 shots per charge, typical of mirrorless models but low by DSLR standards. I found this limit demanding during long outings but manageable with a spare battery.

The FX700’s battery life specs are not clearly documented, but small compacts usually range from 200-300 shots. It accepts SD/SDHC/SDXC cards and includes some internal storage - a benefit for offloading images quickly on the go.

Both cameras use single SD slot storage - standard and expandable.

Video Capabilities: Not the Main Attraction but Serviceable

Neither camera aims to compete with modern hybrid 4K superstar models, but both provide useful video modes.

The Olympus shoots 720p HD video at 30 fps in Motion JPEG format - a now somewhat dated standard that produces large file sizes but remains easy to edit. No microphone input limits sound quality enhancement.

The Panasonic FX700 excels in video, recording full HD 1080p at 60 fps encoded in AVCHD - a step above in smoothness and compression efficiency. No audio ports here either, but the high frame rate and longer zoom make it handy for casual videography and travel clips.

For aspiring videographers focused on smooth HD footage, the Panasonic pulls ahead.

Specialized Photography Styles: Who Excels Where?

Let me translate the above specs into practical performance across common photographic disciplines.

Portraits

• Olympus E-PL2: Thanks to interchangeable lenses and face detection AF, skin tones render naturally, and with fast primes you can achieve smooth background blur (bokeh). Eye detection is absent but face detection suffices for casual portraits.
• Panasonic FX700: Fixed lens with limited aperture range restricts shallow depth of field, making background separation tougher. Lack of face/eye AF is a hindrance in quick portrait sessions.

Landscape

• E-PL2 shines with superior dynamic range, resolution, and lens options for ultra-wide or high-quality telephoto shots.
• FX700 is hampered by small sensor dynamic range and fixed lens - adequate for snapshots but less demanding work.

Wildlife and Sports

• Neither is designed for high-end sports or wildlife:
• E-PL2’s continuous AF and 3 fps buffer limits ability to track fast action but better than FX700’s static AF.
• FX700’s fast 10 fps burst is attractive but focus latency and small sensor size limit tracking and image quality at long zooms.

Street and Travel

• FX700’s compact size, silent operation, and fast zoom make it ideal for candid street and travel photography.
• E-PL2 is bulkier but offers superior image quality and manual control for those who prefer deliberate shooting.

Macro

• E-PL2 paired with dedicated macro lenses blows FX700 away in focusing precision and image details.
• FX700 offers 3 cm close focusing and decent detail but limited by sensor and lens quality.

Night and Astro

• The E-PL2’s better sensor and longer exposures (up to 60s) allow pushing low light photography further. ISO noise is controllable to about 1600 ISO.
• The FX700 struggles at high ISO with more prominent noise and a max shutter speed of just 1/2000s.

Connectivity and Extras

Both cameras offer minimal wireless features - no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, or GPS. Olympus includes USB 2.0 and HDMI out, as does Panasonic. No microphone or headphone jacks exist on either.

Olympus E-PL2 offers more in-camera bracketing (AE and WB), enhancing HDR capabilities, while Panasonic’s firmware is more beginner-friendly with touch interface.

Price-to-Performance: Who Offers What for Your Wallet?

While the Olympus E-PL2 was originally mid-tier priced and might now be available mostly in used condition, the Panasonic FX700 remains a more recent compact powerhouse priced around $399 new or similar used.

The Olympus outperforms in image quality, versatility, and manual control. Panasonic excels in portability, video specs, and simplicity.

Final Thoughts: Who Should Buy Which?

Both cameras have historical significance and serve reasonably well within their design niches, but my hands-on testing crystallizes their ideal roles.

• Choose Olympus PEN E-PL2 if you:

  • Crave manual control and want to grow your skills on an interchangeable lens system
  • Need superior image quality and dynamic range for portraits, landscapes, and creative work
  • Don’t mind a larger body and shorter battery life
  • Appreciate an affordable Micro Four Thirds gateway camera to tap into a vast lens ecosystem

• Choose Panasonic FX700 if you:

  • Prioritize ultimate portability and quick candid shooting anywhere
  • Desire better video quality and faster burst shooting for casual action capture
  • Prefer touchscreen ease and all-in-one convenience without lens changes
  • Seek a robust travel or street camera that fits comfortably in your pocket

In conclusion, I find these two cameras embody distinct trade-offs rather than direct competition. Olympus’ E-PL2 offers photographers creative freedom and classical mirrorless advantages at the cost of bulk and speed, while Panasonic’s FX700 charms with compact convenience and good video for casual shooters.

If I had to recommend one for a modern enthusiast considering these models on the used market, the Olympus E-PL2 is my pick for enduring image quality and lens versatility. However, for a grab-and-go solution with striking video potential, the Panasonic FX700 deserves serious attention.

Whichever you choose, both cameras are capable companions for thoughtful photography and remind us how design focus shapes every shoot.

Happy shooting!