Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax RS1500

The following is a complete overview of the Olympus E-PL2 versus Pentax RS1500, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is very well matched but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and RS1500 (1/2.3") boast different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL2 was announced at a similar time to the RS1500 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the E-PL2 scores vs the RS1500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PL2 and Pentax Optio RS1500. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL2 Gallery and Pentax RS1500 Gallery.

When you are going to travel with your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL2 provides exterior dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) whilst the Pentax RS1500 has specifications of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL2 versus Pentax RS1500 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL2 versus the RS1500.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL2 and RS1500 is 85 and 93 respectively.

Generally, it can be difficult to picture the gap between sensor dimensions merely by reading through a spec sheet. The image underneath will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL2 and RS1500.

Clearly, both cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL2 having a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Pentax RS1500 will give extra detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics way more aggressively.