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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A99 II

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Sony Alpha A99 II front
Portability
57
Imaging
77
Features
92
Overall
83

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A99 II 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
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL3
Sony A99 II
(Full Review)
  • 42MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Bump to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 849g - 143 x 104 x 76mm
  • Announced September 2016
  • Superseded the Sony A99
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A99 II Overview

Following is a detailed overview of the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony A99 II, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and A99 II (42MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and A99 II (Full frame) possess different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL2 was unveiled 6 years earlier than the A99 II which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A99 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going in to a detailed comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the E-PL2 scores against the A99 II in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Sony A99 II

 E-PL2 A99 II 

Reasons to pick Sony A99 II over the Olympus E-PL2

 A99 II E-PL2 
AnnouncedSeptember 2016February 2011More modern by 68 months
Screen typeFully articulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1229k460kClearer screen (+769k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony A99 II

 E-PL2 A99 II 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A99 II Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry around your camera, you'll need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL2 has got physical dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) and the Sony A99 II has proportions of 143mm x 104mm x 76mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 849 grams (1.87 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony A99 II in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with during that time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the E-PL2 compared to the A99 II.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A99 II size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL2 and A99 II is 85 and 57 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A99 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A99 II Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to imagine the difference in sensor sizes only by going through a spec sheet. The image here may provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL2 and A99 II.

As you can see, each of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PL2 having a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Sony A99 II will produce greater detail having an extra 30 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The more aged E-PL2 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A99 II sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A99 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A99 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography advice
Sony A99 II Portrait photography advice
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has face detect focusing
supports RAW files
low resolution (12 megapixels)
86
focusing manually
megapixel count great (42MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
has face detect focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL2
Street photography with Sony A99 II
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no moving screen
76
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
above average high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography features
Sony A99 II Sports photography features
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12MP)
low battery pack (280 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
82
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count great (42MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
has tracking focus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect AF
not so great battery pack (490 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography features
Sony A99 II Travel photography features
51
has built in flash
no Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (280 CIPA)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
70
weather sealing
has bluetooth
megapixel count great (42 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
not so great battery pack (490 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL2
Landscape photography with Sony A99 II
61
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
low battery pack (280 CIPA)
no Time Lapse recording
82
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count great (42MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
no anti-alias filter
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
two card slots
not so great battery pack (490 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A99 II as a Vlogging camera
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focusing
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic socket
78
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
does have microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A99 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Sony A99 II
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Sony Alpha A99 II
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Sony Alpha A99 II
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2011-02-11 2016-09-19
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 42MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 7952 x 5304
Maximum native ISO 6400 25600
Maximum enhanced ISO - 102400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Lowest enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 399
Cross focus points - 79
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 107 143
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully articulated
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Off, auto, fill, slow sync, redeye reduction, rear sync, high-speed sync, wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160s 1/250s
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) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 gr (0.80 lbs) 849 gr (1.87 lbs)
Dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 143 x 104 x 76mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 92
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 25.4
DXO Dynamic range score 10.2 13.4
DXO Low light score 573 2317
Other
Battery life 280 pictures 490 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack NP-FM500H lithium-ion battery & charger
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC/MS Duo slots
Card slots 1 2
Cost at release $0 $3,198