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Olympus E-PL2 vs Samsung NX300M

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Samsung NX300M front
Portability
86
Imaging
62
Features
73
Overall
66

Olympus E-PL2 vs Samsung NX300M 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
  • Announced February 2011
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL3
Samsung NX300M
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 331g - 122 x 64 x 41mm
  • Launched January 2013
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Samsung NX300M Overview

Its time to look closer at the Olympus E-PL2 vs Samsung NX300M, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by rivals Olympus and Samsung. There exists a noticeable gap among the image resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and NX300M (20MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and NX300M (APS-C) boast different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL2 was unveiled 23 months earlier than the NX300M which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving into a complete comparison, here is a quick summation of how the E-PL2 scores vs the NX300M with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Samsung NX300M

 E-PL2 NX300M 

Reasons to pick Samsung NX300M over the Olympus E-PL2

 NX300M E-PL2 
LaunchedJanuary 2013February 2011Fresher by 23 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3.3"3"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution768k460kSharper screen (+308k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Samsung NX300M

 E-PL2 NX300M 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-PL2 vs Samsung NX300M Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera, you have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL2 comes with external dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) and the Samsung NX300M has proportions of 122mm x 64mm x 41mm (4.8" x 2.5" x 1.6") with a weight of 331 grams (0.73 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL2 vs Samsung NX300M in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL2 and the NX300M.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Samsung NX300M size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL2 and NX300M is 85 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Samsung NX300M top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Samsung NX300M Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizing purely by looking through specifications. The visual here should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL2 and NX300M.

Plainly, the two cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL2 with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more challenging and the Samsung NX300M will provide you with more detail having an extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older E-PL2 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Samsung NX300M sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Samsung NX300M Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Samsung NX300M Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography advice
Samsung NX300M Portrait photography advice
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
77
you can focus manually
good resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL2
Street photography with Samsung NX300M
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is fixed
80
screen tilts
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
offers focus via touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography information
Samsung NX300M Sports photography information
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (280 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
72
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect autofocus
does not have image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography features
Samsung NX300M Travel photography features
51
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
terrible battery life (280 CIPA)
MP count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
66
offers focus via touch
good resolution (20MP)
missing Timelapse recording
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL2
Landscape photography with Samsung NX300M
61
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (280 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
72
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Samsung NX mount)
pretty good screen size (3.3 inch)
good resolution (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging highlights
Samsung NX300M Vlogging highlights
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone port
33
built-in touchscreen
provides face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
missing external microphone port
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Samsung NX300M Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Samsung NX300M
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Samsung NX300M
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Samsung
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL2 Samsung NX300M
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2011-02-11 2013-01-03
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V DRIMe IV
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 247
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Samsung NX
Number of lenses 107 32
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3.3 inch
Resolution of display 460k dot 768k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating Active Matrix OLED screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per sec 9.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options 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
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160s -
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) 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 362g (0.80 lb) 331g (0.73 lb)
Physical dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 122 x 64 x 41mm (4.8" x 2.5" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 330 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 sec to 30 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $0 $699