Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax K-50

In this article, we are evaluating the Olympus E-PL2 versus Pentax K-50, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a huge difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and K-50 (16MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and K-50 (APS-C) use totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL2 was unveiled 3 years earlier than the K-50 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-50 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief overview of how the E-PL2 scores vs the K-50 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PL2 and Pentax K-50. The full galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL2 Gallery and Pentax K-50 Gallery.

For those who are going to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL2 has external measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) and the Pentax K-50 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL2 versus Pentax K-50 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are employing at that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PL2 versus the K-50.

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL2 and K-50 is 85 and 63 respectively.

Often, it is very tough to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions only by viewing specs. The picture underneath should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL2 and K-50.

All in all, both of those cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL2 with its smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Pentax K-50 will result in greater detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The more aged E-PL2 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.