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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony a5100

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Sony Alpha a5100 front
Portability
89
Imaging
66
Features
74
Overall
69

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony a5100 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
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL3
Sony a5100
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 283g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Launched August 2014
  • Succeeded the Sony a5000
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony a5100 Overview

The following is a extensive comparison of the Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony a5100, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by competitors Olympus and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the image resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and a5100 (APS-C) have different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL2 was announced 4 years before the a5100 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting straight to a complete comparison, here is a short overview of how the E-PL2 matches up vs the a5100 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Sony a5100

 E-PL2 a5100 

Reasons to pick Sony a5100 over the Olympus E-PL2

 a5100 E-PL2 
LaunchedAugust 2014February 2011Newer by 42 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution922k460kSharper screen (+462k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony a5100

 E-PL2 a5100 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony a5100 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL2 has got exterior dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) whilst the Sony a5100 has sizing of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") with a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony a5100 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose at the time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the E-PL2 versus the a5100.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony a5100 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL2 and a5100 is 85 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony a5100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony a5100 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to picture the gap in sensor dimensions merely by viewing specifications. The image underneath may offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL2 and a5100.

Plainly, the 2 cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL2 having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony a5100 will provide you with extra detail with its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-PL2 will be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony a5100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony a5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony a5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony a5100 as a Portrait photography camera
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
saves RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
72
you can focus manually
MP count good (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
exports RAW files
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography highlights
Sony a5100 Street photography highlights
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is fixed
82
screen tilts up and down
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
provides touch to focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Sports photography camera
Sony a5100 as a Sports photography camera
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
bad battery (280 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
68
MP count good (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking focus
great battery power (400 shots)
comes with phase detect AF
max fps very slow (6.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Travel photography camera
Sony a5100 as a Travel photography camera
51
has built in flash
no Time Lapse mode
bad battery (280 per charge)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
80
great battery power (400 CIPA)
provides touch to focus
MP count good (24MP)
built-in flash
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography details
Sony a5100 Landscape photography details
61
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
bad battery (280 CIPA)
no Time Lapse mode
79
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
great battery power (400 per charge)
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging details
Sony a5100 Vlogging details
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic port
34
touchscreen
features face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
no mic port
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony a5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Sony a5100
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Sony Alpha a5100
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Sony Alpha a5100
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2011-02-11 2014-08-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 179
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Total lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 secs -
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) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (120p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic 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 None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 362 grams (0.80 lb) 283 grams (0.62 lb)
Physical dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 80
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score 10.2 12.7
DXO Low light score 573 1347
Other
Battery life 280 images 400 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $0 $448