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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony W830

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W830 front
Portability
96
Imaging
45
Features
26
Overall
37

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony W830 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
  • Revealed February 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL3
Sony W830
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-6.3) lens
  • 122g - 93 x 52 x 23mm
  • Introduced January 2014
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony W830 Overview

Here, we will be matching up the Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony W830, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Ultracompact by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and W830 (20MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and W830 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL2 was launched 3 years before the W830 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W830 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the E-PL2 scores versus the W830 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Sony W830

 E-PL2 W830 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W830 over the Olympus E-PL2

 W830 E-PL2 
IntroducedJanuary 2014February 2011Fresher by 35 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony W830

 E-PL2 W830 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony W830 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL2 comes with outer measurements 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 W830 has specifications of 93mm x 52mm x 23mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9") along with a weight of 122 grams (0.27 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony W830 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the E-PL2 vs the W830.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony W830 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL2 and W830 is 85 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony W830 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony W830 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to envision the difference between sensor sizing just by reviewing a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL2 and W830.

As you can see, both the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PL2 featuring a bigger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Sony W830 will offer greater detail utilizing its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older E-PL2 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony W830 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony W830 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony W830 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography details
Sony W830 Portrait photography details
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
38
good MP (20MP)
comes with face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL2
Street photography with Sony W830
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen does not articulate
59
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Sports photography camera
Sony W830 as a Sports photography camera
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (280 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
43
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
comes with tracking focus
max fps very slow (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography factors
Sony W830 Travel photography factors
51
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (280 shots)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
67
good MP (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
missing Timelapse mode
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography info
Sony W830 Landscape photography info
61
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (280 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse recording
41
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
manual mode not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging features
Sony W830 Vlogging features
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
does not feature selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic port
32
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony W830 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Sony W830
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W830
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL2 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W830
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Revealed 2011-02-11 2014-01-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 5152 x 3864
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-200mm (8.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-6.3
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 2 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 2.80 m (with ISO auto)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto / Flash On / Slow Synchro / Flash Off / Advanced Flash
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum 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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG H.264
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 362 grams (0.80 pounds) 122 grams (0.27 pounds)
Physical dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 93 x 52 x 23mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 280 images -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo, microSD/microSDHC
Card slots One One
Price at launch $0 $128