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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX20V 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
  • Released February 2011
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL3
Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Launched July 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony HX10V
  • Newer Model is Sony HX30V
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX20V Overview

Lets examine more in depth at the Olympus E-PL2 versus Sony HX20V, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a large difference among the resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and HX20V (18MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and HX20V (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL2 was unveiled 17 months before the HX20V which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX20V being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the E-PL2 scores vs the HX20V with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Sony HX20V

 E-PL2 HX20V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Olympus E-PL2

 HX20V E-PL2 
LaunchedJuly 2012February 2011More recent by 17 months
Screen resolution922k460kClearer screen (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony HX20V

 E-PL2 HX20V 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL2 offers external measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) whilst the Sony HX20V has dimensions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL2 versus Sony HX20V in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the E-PL2 and the HX20V.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL2 and HX20V is 85 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very tough to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements only by going through technical specs. The photograph underneath should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL2 and HX20V.

As you can tell, each of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL2 having a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Sony HX20V will show greater detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The older E-PL2 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Portrait photography camera
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
45
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
offers face detect autofocus
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL2
Street photography with Sony HX20V
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (254g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography advice
Sony HX20V Sports photography advice
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low MP (12MP)
low battery power (280 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
49
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
offers tracking focus
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography advice
Sony HX20V Travel photography advice
51
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
low battery power (280 per charge)
low MP (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than others in class (254 grams)
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
missing Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Landscape photography camera
61
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
low battery power (280 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse function
50
has manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging factors
Sony HX20V Vlogging factors
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic support
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (254 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing mic jack
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Sony HX20V
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-02-11 2012-07-20
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus range - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 362g (0.80 pounds) 254g (0.56 pounds)
Dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 280 pictures 320 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $0 $397