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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax P80

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Pentax Optio P80 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
23
Overall
30

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax P80 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
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL3
Pentax P80
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F2.6-5.8) lens
  • 125g - 102 x 59 x 25mm
  • Announced August 2009
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax P80 Overview

Below, we are contrasting the Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax P80, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the P80 (12MP) is fairly similar but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and P80 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL2 was unveiled 19 months later than the P80 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax P80 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the E-PL2 scores vs the P80 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Pentax P80

 E-PL2 P80 
AnnouncedFebruary 2011August 2009More recent by 19 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax P80 over the Olympus E-PL2

 P80 E-PL2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax P80

 E-PL2 P80 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax P80 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL2 has outside dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) while the Pentax P80 has specifications of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax P80 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use at the time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the E-PL2 versus the P80.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax P80 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL2 and P80 is 85 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax P80 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax P80 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to visualise the gap between sensor measurements just by reviewing technical specs. The photograph here may provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL2 and P80.

As you can tell, the two cameras have got the exact same MP but not the same sensor measurements. The E-PL2 offers the larger sensor which will make obtaining bokeh simpler. The newer E-PL2 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax P80 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax P80 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax P80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography features
Pentax P80 Portrait photography features
60
focusing manually
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
27
you can focus manually
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Street photography camera
Pentax P80 as a Street photography camera
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no articulating screen
55
lighter than competitors in class (125g)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax P80 as a Sports photography camera
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (280 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
17
max shutter speed is low (1/1,000 seconds)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax P80 as a Travel photography camera
51
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery power (280 CIPA)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
62
lighter than competitors in class (125g)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.6)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL2
Landscape photography with Pentax P80
61
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
not so great battery power (280 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse recording
32
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.6)
tiny screen (2.7")
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax P80 as a Vlogging camera
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic port
28
reasonably wide (28mm)
lighter than competitors in class (125g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.6)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic support
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax P80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax P80
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Pentax Optio P80
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL2 Pentax Optio P80
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-02-11 2009-08-05
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V Prime
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface 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
Lowest native ISO 100 64
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-110mm (3.9x)
Highest aperture - f/2.6-5.8
Macro focusing range - 10cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 4.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) -
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160s -
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 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 362 grams (0.80 lb) 125 grams (0.28 lb)
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 images -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $0 $200