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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony S950

Portability
85
Imaging
47
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950 front
Portability
94
Imaging
32
Features
17
Overall
26

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony S950 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
  • Released February 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PL3
Sony S950
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Revealed February 2009
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony S950 Overview

On this page, we are analyzing the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony S950, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the S950 (10MP) is fairly similar but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and S950 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL2 was released 2 years after the S950 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony S950 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-PL2 matches up versus the S950 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Sony S950

 E-PL2 S950 
RevealedFebruary 2011February 2009More modern by 25 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S950 over the Olympus E-PL2

 S950 E-PL2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony S950

 E-PL2 S950 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony S950 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL2 comes with exterior 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 S950 has sizing of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony S950 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing during that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PL2 against the S950.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony S950 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL2 and S950 is 85 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony S950 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony S950 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very tough to see the gap between sensor sizes just by reading a spec sheet. The picture underneath should provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL2 and S950.

As you can see, the two cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PL2 featuring a larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Olympus E-PL2 will offer you extra detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop images more aggressively. The more modern E-PL2 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony S950 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony S950 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony S950 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography info
Sony S950 Portrait photography info
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
supports RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
25
manual focus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography information
Sony S950 Street photography information
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
fixed screen
56
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Sports photography camera
Sony S950 as a Sports photography camera
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (280 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
24
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Travel photography camera
Sony S950 as a Travel photography camera
51
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (280 per charge)
low MP (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
50
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse function
resolution not great (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography highlights
Sony S950 Landscape photography highlights
60
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (280 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
31
manual focus
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not available
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
does not have Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging information
Sony S950 Vlogging information
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
does not have a selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic support
9
can't record video
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony S950 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Sony S950
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-02-11 2009-02-17
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance - 10cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 2 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 362g (0.80 lbs) 167g (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 shots -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $0 $130