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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax ist DL2

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Pentax ist DL2 front
Portability
69
Imaging
45
Features
33
Overall
40

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax ist DL2 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
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL3
Pentax ist DL2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 565g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Launched January 2006
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax ist DL2 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax ist DL2, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a substantial gap among the image resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and ist DL2 (6MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and ist DL2 (APS-C) boast different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL2 was unveiled 5 years later than the ist DL2 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving right into a thorough comparison, here is a quick summary of how the E-PL2 matches up versus the ist DL2 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Pentax ist DL2

 E-PL2 ist DL2 
LaunchedFebruary 2011January 2006Fresher by 62 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k210kSharper display (+250k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DL2 over the Olympus E-PL2

 ist DL2 E-PL2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax ist DL2

 E-PL2 ist DL2 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax ist DL2 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry your camera often, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL2 provides exterior measurements 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 ist DL2 has specifications of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") having a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax ist DL2 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the E-PL2 compared to the ist DL2.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax ist DL2 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL2 and ist DL2 is 85 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax ist DL2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax ist DL2 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to picture the gap in sensor sizing only by seeing specifications. The photograph underneath should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL2 and ist DL2.

Plainly, the 2 cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PL2 having a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF more challenging and the Olympus E-PL2 will show greater detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more modern E-PL2 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax ist DL2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography features
Pentax ist DL2 Portrait photography features
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
51
you can focus manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
does not have liveview
low MP (6MP)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography details
Pentax ist DL2 Street photography details
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no moving screen
60
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lighter than competition (565 grams)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Sports photography camera
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (280 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
39
good sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low MP (6MP)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography features
Pentax ist DL2 Travel photography features
51
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
bad battery life (280 per charge)
MP count low (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
52
lighter than competition (565g)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse mode
low MP (6 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography features
Pentax ist DL2 Landscape photography features
61
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (280 shots)
lack of Timelapse mode
47
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
does not have liveview
no image stabilization
low MP (6MP)
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL2
Vlogging with Pentax ist DL2
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
does not have a selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone support
22
lighter than competition (565g)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video res low ( pxls)
does not have external microphone jack
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Pentax ist DL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Pentax ist DL2
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Pentax ist DL2
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Pentax ist DL2
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2011-02-11 2006-01-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 6 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 3008 x 2008
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 5
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF
Number of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.5 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 -
Video format Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None No
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 362 gr (0.80 pounds) 565 gr (1.25 pounds)
Physical dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 65
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score 10.2 11.1
DXO Low light score 573 639
Other
Battery life 280 pictures -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/MMC card
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $0 -