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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A580

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
82
Overall
67

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A580 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
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL3
Sony A580
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Announced May 2011
  • Older Model is Sony A100
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A580 Overview

Here is a complete review of the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony A580, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap among the image resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and A580 (16MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and A580 (APS-C) use different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL2 was announced 3 months before the A580 so they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving through a in-depth comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the E-PL2 grades versus the A580 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Sony A580

 E-PL2 A580 

Reasons to pick Sony A580 over the Olympus E-PL2

 A580 E-PL2 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k460kCrisper display (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony A580

 E-PL2 A580 
AnnouncedFebruary 2011May 2011Same age
Focus manually More precise focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A580 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera, you'll need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL2 has outer measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) and the Sony A580 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony A580 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the E-PL2 against the A580.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A580 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL2 and A580 is 85 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A580 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A580 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to imagine the difference in sensor sizing simply by seeing specifications. The visual here should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL2 and A580.

Plainly, both of these cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PL2 having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF trickier and the Sony A580 will produce greater detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics much more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A580 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A580 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography advice
Sony A580 Portrait photography advice
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
exports RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
74
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography features
Sony A580 Street photography features
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen does not articulate
75
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography info
Sony A580 Sports photography info
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
max fps very slow (3.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12MP)
low battery power (280 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
78
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
good battery (1,050 shots)
has phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A580 as a Travel photography camera
51
has built in flash
no Time Lapse function
low battery power (280 per charge)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
61
good battery (1,050 per charge)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
no Timelapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A580 Landscape photography highlights
61
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
low battery power (280 CIPA)
no Time Lapse function
74
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
good battery (1,050 CIPA)
2 card slots
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL2
Vlogging with Sony A580
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic socket
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has microphone support
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony A580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Sony A580
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-02-11 2011-05-26
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic V Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 107 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/160 seconds
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 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 362 gr (0.80 lbs) 599 gr (1.32 lbs)
Dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 80
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score 10.2 13.3
DXO Low light score 573 1121
Other
Battery life 280 images 1050 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 2
Price at launch $0 $848