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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GF2

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 front
Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
50
Overall
48

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GF2 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Released February 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL1s
  • New Model is Olympus E-PL3
Panasonic GF2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 310g - 113 x 68 x 33mm
  • Revealed February 2011
  • Replaced the Panasonic GF1
  • Successor is Panasonic GF3
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GF2 Overview

The following is a detailed comparison of the Olympus E-PL2 versus Panasonic GF2, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the GF2 (12MP) is pretty comparable and both cameras posses the identical sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL2 was brought out at a similar time to the GF2 so they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going into a detailed comparison, here is a short summation of how the E-PL2 matches up against the GF2 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Panasonic GF2

 E-PL2 GF2 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF2 over the Olympus E-PL2

 GF2 E-PL2 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic GF2

 E-PL2 GF2 
RevealedFebruary 2011February 2011Same age
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Screen resolution460k460kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GF2 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera often, you'll have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL2 has got outer measurements 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 GF2 has specifications of 113mm x 68mm x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") and a weight of 310 grams (0.68 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL2 versus Panasonic GF2 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL2 and the GF2.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GF2 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL2 and GF2 is 85 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GF2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GF2 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its tough to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by checking out specs. The pic below will give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL2 and GF2.

All in all, both the cameras come with the identical sensor size and the same MP so you can expect comparable quality of photographs however you have to take the age of the cameras into account.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GF2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GF2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GF2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography info
Panasonic GF2 Portrait photography info
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography factors
Panasonic GF2 Street photography factors
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no moving screen
65
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography details
Panasonic GF2 Sports photography details
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (280 per charge)
no phase detect AF
38
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
max fps low (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (300 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography info
Panasonic GF2 Travel photography info
51
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery (280 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
52
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
bad battery power (300 per charge)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic GF2 Landscape photography highlights
61
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (280 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
55
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
bad battery power (300 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic GF2 as a Vlogging camera
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic support
32
screen is touchscreen
has face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GF2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic GF2
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2011-02-11 2011-02-24
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in 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, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 362 gr (0.80 lb) 310 gr (0.68 lb)
Physical dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 113 x 68 x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 54
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 21.2
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.2 10.3
DXO Low light rating 573 506
Other
Battery life 280 photos 300 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $0 $330