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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax H90

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Pentax Optio H90 front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
24
Overall
30

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax H90 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
  • Revealed February 2011
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL3
Pentax H90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 153g - 101 x 65 x 28mm
  • Released January 2010
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax H90 Overview

In this write-up, we are contrasting the Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax H90, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the H90 (12MP) is fairly similar but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and H90 (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL2 was released 13 months after the H90 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax H90 being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the E-PL2 matches up against the H90 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Pentax H90

 E-PL2 H90 
ReleasedFebruary 2011January 2010More modern by 13 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax H90 over the Olympus E-PL2

 H90 E-PL2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax H90

 E-PL2 H90 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax H90 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL2 provides outside dimensions 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 Pentax H90 has proportions of 101mm x 65mm x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1") having a weight of 153 grams (0.34 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax H90 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the E-PL2 compared to the H90.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax H90 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL2 and H90 is 85 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax H90 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax H90 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizes just by reading specs. The picture underneath might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL2 and H90.

All in all, both of these cameras offer the same exact MP but different sensor sizes. The E-PL2 features the larger sensor which will make achieving shallow depth of field simpler. The younger E-PL2 provides an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax H90 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax H90 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax H90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL2
Portrait photography with Pentax H90
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
supports RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
27
focusing manually
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Street photography camera
Pentax H90 as a Street photography camera
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is fixed
56
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography details
Pentax H90 Sports photography details
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (280 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
31
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography info
Pentax H90 Travel photography info
51
flash built-in
no Time Lapse recording
terrible battery pack (280 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
57
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse function
resolution not great (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography features
Pentax H90 Landscape photography features
61
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
terrible battery pack (280 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
36
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no manual exposure
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging features
Pentax H90 Vlogging features
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
does not feature selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic port
28
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone port
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax H90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax H90
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Pentax Optio H90
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL2 Pentax Optio H90
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2011-02-11 2010-01-25
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V Prime
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 10cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 4.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 362 grams (0.80 lb) 153 grams (0.34 lb)
Dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 101 x 65 x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1")
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 photos -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $0 $150