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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax E90

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Pentax Optio E90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
11
Overall
24

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax E90 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
  • Launched February 2011
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL3
Pentax E90
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 32-95mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 145g - 102 x 59 x 25mm
  • Released January 2010
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax E90 Overview

Here is a extended overview of the Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax E90, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the E90 (10MP) is pretty similar but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and E90 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL2 was brought out 13 months later than the E90 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax E90 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a in depth comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the E-PL2 scores against the E90 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Pentax E90

 E-PL2 E90 
ReleasedFebruary 2011January 2010Fresher by 13 months
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax E90 over the Olympus E-PL2

 E90 E-PL2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax E90

 E-PL2 E90 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax E90 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL2 enjoys physical dimensions 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 E90 has measurements of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") with a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax E90 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the E-PL2 versus the E90.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax E90 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL2 and E90 is 85 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax E90 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax E90 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing only by reading technical specs. The photograph underneath might offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL2 and E90.

As you can tell, each of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL2 featuring a bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-PL2 will offer you more detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The younger E-PL2 will have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax E90 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax E90 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax E90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography factors
Pentax E90 Portrait photography factors
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
19
no manual focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL2
Street photography with Pentax E90
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
47
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax E90 as a Sports photography camera
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
low fps (3.0 fps)
low resolution (12MP)
terrible battery pack (280 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
16
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography information
Pentax E90 Travel photography information
51
has built in flash
no Time Lapse function
terrible battery pack (280 per charge)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
50
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse function
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (32mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax E90 Landscape photography highlights
61
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
terrible battery pack (280 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
22
no manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (32mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no manual mode
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging features
Pentax E90 Vlogging features
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
does not contain selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic port
22
wide angle not fantastic (32mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic support
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax E90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax E90
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Pentax Optio E90
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL2 Pentax Optio E90
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-02-11 2010-01-25
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic V Prime
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 3
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 32-95mm (3.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing range - 6cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (15 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 362g (0.80 pounds) 145g (0.32 pounds)
Physical dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 102 x 59 x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 280 shots -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $0 $100