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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax E85

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Pentax Optio E85 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
10
Overall
25

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax E85 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
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Updated by Olympus E-PL3
Pentax E85
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 32-96mm (F2.9-5.2) lens
  • 145g - 93 x 58 x 24mm
  • Revealed September 2009
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax E85 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax E85, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the E85 (12MP) is fairly comparable but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and E85 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL2 was unveiled 18 months after the E85 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax E85 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a full comparison, below is a brief summary of how the E-PL2 matches up against the E85 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Pentax E85

 E-PL2 E85 
RevealedFebruary 2011September 2009More modern by 18 months
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax E85 over the Olympus E-PL2

 E85 E-PL2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax E85

 E-PL2 E85 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax E85 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry around your camera, you're going to have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL2 features exterior measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) and the Pentax E85 has sizing of 93mm x 58mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.9") and a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax E85 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PL2 versus the E85.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax E85 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL2 and E85 is 85 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax E85 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax E85 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizes simply by going through specifications. The pic underneath may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL2 and E85.

To sum up, each of these cameras posses the exact same resolution but different sensor sizes. The E-PL2 uses the larger sensor which is going to make getting shallower depth of field easier. The newer E-PL2 provides an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax E85 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax E85 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax E85 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography features
Pentax E85 Portrait photography features
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
21
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Street photography camera
Pentax E85 as a Street photography camera
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
47
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax E85 as a Sports photography camera
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
low battery power (280 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
17
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography details
Pentax E85 Travel photography details
51
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
low battery power (280 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
51
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse mode
MP count low (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (32mm)
slow max aperture (f2.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography advice
Pentax E85 Landscape photography advice
61
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
low battery power (280 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
23
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (32mm)
slow max aperture (f2.9)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax E85 as a Vlogging camera
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone socket
22
wide angle not great (32mm)
slow max aperture (f2.9)
does not have selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of external microphone jack
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax E85 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax E85
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Pentax Optio E85
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Pentax Optio E85
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-02-11 2009-09-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 32-96mm (3.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.9-5.2
Macro focus distance - 10cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 2 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m 3.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
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) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 362 gr (0.80 lb) 145 gr (0.32 lb)
Dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 93 x 58 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 280 photos -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 D-LI95
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $0 $0