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Olympus E-PL2 vs Samsung NX100

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Samsung NX100 front
Portability
88
Imaging
55
Features
54
Overall
54

Olympus E-PL2 vs Samsung NX100 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
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL3
Samsung NX100
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 282g - 120 x 71 x 35mm
  • Announced September 2010
  • Successor is Samsung NX200
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Samsung NX100 Overview

Its time to look more in depth at the Olympus E-PL2 vs Samsung NX100, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by rivals Olympus and Samsung. The image resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the NX100 (15MP) is relatively comparable but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and NX100 (APS-C) have different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL2 was brought out 5 months after the NX100 so they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-PL2 scores vs the NX100 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Samsung NX100

 E-PL2 NX100 

Reasons to pick Samsung NX100 over the Olympus E-PL2

 NX100 E-PL2 
Screen resolution614k460kSharper screen (+154k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Samsung NX100

 E-PL2 NX100 
AnnouncedFebruary 2011September 2010Same age
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL2 vs Samsung NX100 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL2 features physical measurements 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 Samsung NX100 has dimensions of 120mm x 71mm x 35mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") along with a weight of 282 grams (0.62 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL2 vs Samsung NX100 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL2 vs the NX100.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Samsung NX100 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL2 and NX100 is 85 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Samsung NX100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Samsung NX100 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be hard to picture the gap in sensor dimensions just by seeing a spec sheet. The pic underneath might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL2 and NX100.

As you can see, the 2 cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL2 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field trickier and the Samsung NX100 will produce more detail having its extra 3MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures way more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Samsung NX100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Samsung NX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Samsung NX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography advice
Samsung NX100 Portrait photography advice
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
saves RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
73
you can focus manually
good megapixels (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL2
Street photography with Samsung NX100
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
fixed screen
76
built in image stabilization
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography info
Samsung NX100 Sports photography info
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (280 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
60
built in image stabilization
good megapixels (15MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
great battery (420 per charge)
slow frames per second (3.0 fps)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography features
Samsung NX100 Travel photography features
51
built-in flash
no Timelapse mode
not so great battery (280 per charge)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
66
great battery (420 shots)
good megapixels (15 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Landscape photography camera
Samsung NX100 as a Landscape photography camera
61
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12MP)
not so great battery (280 shots)
no Timelapse mode
75
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization
good megapixels (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
great battery (420 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Vlogging camera
Samsung NX100 as a Vlogging camera
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focus
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone jack
31
built in image stabilization
offers face detect focusing
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic port
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Samsung NX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Samsung NX100
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Samsung NX100
General Information
Make Olympus Samsung
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL2 Samsung NX100
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-02-11 2010-09-14
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V DRIMe Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 15 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 15
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Samsung NX
Total lenses 107 32
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dot 614k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating VGA AMOLED
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, 1st/2nd Curtain, Smart Flash, Manual
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 362 gr (0.80 lbs) 282 gr (0.62 lbs)
Physical dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 120 x 71 x 35mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 62
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.2 10.7
DXO Low light rating 573 563
Other
Battery life 280 images 420 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 sec to 30 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $0 $386