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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GH4

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 front
Portability
66
Imaging
53
Features
88
Overall
67

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GH4 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
  • Announced February 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL3
Panasonic GH4
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 560g - 133 x 93 x 84mm
  • Introduced February 2014
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GH3
  • Refreshed by Panasonic GH5
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GH4 Overview

In this article, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-PL2 versus Panasonic GH4, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference among the image resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and GH4 (16MP) but they possess the same exact sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL2 was announced 4 years prior to the GH4 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic GH4 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go through a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the E-PL2 grades vs the GH4 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Panasonic GH4

 E-PL2 GH4 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH4 over the Olympus E-PL2

 GH4 E-PL2 
IntroducedFebruary 2014February 2011More recent by 36 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1036k460kCrisper screen (+576k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic GH4

 E-PL2 GH4 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GH4 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to lug around your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL2 comes with outer 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 GH4 has measurements of 133mm x 93mm x 84mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.3") with a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL2 versus Panasonic GH4 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PL2 and the GH4.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GH4 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL2 and GH4 is 85 and 66 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GH4 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GH4 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is tough to picture the gap in sensor measurements merely by looking through specs. The visual underneath should give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL2 and GH4.

All in all, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Panasonic GH4 to render greater detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots far more aggressively. The older E-PL2 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GH4 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GH4 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GH4 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic GH4 Portrait photography advice
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
supports RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
71
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography advice
Panasonic GH4 Street photography advice
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no moving screen
71
fully articulated screen
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
supports touch to focus
environment proofing
lighter than competitors (560g)
above average high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL2
Sports photography with Panasonic GH4
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
bad battery pack (280 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
62
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proofing
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography factors
Panasonic GH4 Travel photography factors
51
flash built-in
no Timelapse mode
bad battery pack (280 shots)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
77
lighter than competitors (560 grams)
environment proofing
supports touch to focus
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL2
Landscape photography with Panasonic GH4
61
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (280 CIPA)
no Timelapse mode
72
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL2
Vlogging with Panasonic GH4
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone support
71
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen
offers face detection autofocus
great video quality (4096 x 2160 pxls)
comes with external mic socket
lighter than competitors (560 grams)
no image stabilization
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GH4 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic GH4
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Announced 2011-02-11 2014-02-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V Venus Engine IX
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 49
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460k dots 1,036k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating OLED
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.67x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m 17.00 m (at ISO 200)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, auto/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync/redeye reduction, forced off
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 4096 x 2160 (24p), 3840 x 2160 (24p, 25p, 30p), 1920 x 1080 (24p, 25p, 30p, 50p, 60p), 1280 x 720 (24p, 25p, 30p), 640 x 480 (25p, 30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 4096x2160
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 362 grams (0.80 pounds) 560 grams (1.23 pounds)
Dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 133 x 93 x 84mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 74
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 23.2
DXO Dynamic range score 10.2 12.8
DXO Low light score 573 791
Other
Battery life 280 pictures 500 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 DMW-BLF19
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs (single or three-shot))
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $0 $1,500