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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax RZ10

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ10 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax RZ10 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
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL3
Pentax RZ10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-280mm (F3.2-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Launched July 2011
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax RZ10 Overview

The following is a extended review of the Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax RZ10, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the RZ10 (14MP) is pretty similar but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and RZ10 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL2 was unveiled 5 months earlier than the RZ10 and they are of a similar generation. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax RZ10 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a full comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the E-PL2 scores against the RZ10 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Pentax RZ10

 E-PL2 RZ10 
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ10 over the Olympus E-PL2

 RZ10 E-PL2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax RZ10

 E-PL2 RZ10 
LaunchedFebruary 2011July 2011Similar generation
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax RZ10 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL2 has outer dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) whilst the Pentax RZ10 has dimensions of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax RZ10 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is a front view size comparison of the E-PL2 against the RZ10.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax RZ10 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL2 and RZ10 is 85 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax RZ10 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax RZ10 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to see the difference between sensor dimensions only by reviewing technical specs. The image here will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL2 and RZ10.

As you have seen, each of the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL2 with its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Pentax RZ10 will offer greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax RZ10 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax RZ10 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax RZ10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL2
Portrait photography with Pentax RZ10
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
35
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL2
Street photography with Pentax RZ10
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography features
Pentax RZ10 Sports photography features
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
slow frames per second (3.0 fps)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
low battery power (280 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
40
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
has tracking focus
weather sealing
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (178 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL2
Travel photography with Pentax RZ10
51
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
low battery power (280 CIPA)
low megapixels (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
66
weather sealing
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
great zoom (280mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery pack (178 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography factors
Pentax RZ10 Landscape photography factors
61
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
low battery power (280 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse mode
43
manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
weather sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
not so great battery pack (178 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging info
Pentax RZ10 Vlogging info
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic jack
28
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic support
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax RZ10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax RZ10
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Pentax Optio RZ10
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Pentax Optio RZ10
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-02-11 2011-07-19
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-280mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.2-5.9
Macro focus range - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 362 grams (0.80 pounds) 178 grams (0.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 pictures 178 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $0 $200