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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VR-320

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Olympus VR-320 front
Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
35
Overall
36

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VR-320 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Launched May 2013
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PM1
Olympus VR-320
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-300mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 101 x 58 x 29mm
  • Announced July 2011
  • Refreshed by Olympus VR-330
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VR-320 Overview

In this write-up, we are matching up the Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VR-320, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are produced by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the VR-320 (14MP) is very well matched but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and VR-320 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PM2 was revealed 23 months later than the VR-320 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus VR-320 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a thorough comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the E-PM2 grades vs the VR-320 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Olympus VR-320

 E-PM2 VR-320 
AnnouncedMay 2013July 2011More recent by 23 months
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus VR-320 over the Olympus E-PM2

 VR-320 E-PM2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Olympus VR-320

 E-PM2 VR-320 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VR-320 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM2 provides external measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Olympus VR-320 has proportions of 101mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VR-320 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PM2 versus the VR-320.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VR-320 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-PM2 and VR-320 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VR-320 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VR-320 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its hard to see the gap between sensor measurements just by reading through a spec sheet. The graphic underneath should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM2 and VR-320.

As you can see, the 2 cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PM2 having a larger sensor will make shooting bokeh simpler and the Olympus E-PM2 will give more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The more recent E-PM2 will have an edge in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VR-320 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VR-320 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VR-320 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography info
Olympus VR-320 Portrait photography info
71
manual focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
33
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
provides face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography highlights
Olympus VR-320 Street photography highlights
79
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
offers focus by touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
screen is fixed
62
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (158 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus VR-320 as a Sports photography camera
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
lacks phase detect auto focus
47
long zoom range (24-300mm 12.5 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PM2
Travel photography with Olympus VR-320
66
offers focus by touch
decent MP (16MP)
lack of Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
70
lighter than average (158g)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
great zoom (300mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus VR-320 as a Landscape photography camera
74
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
lack of Time Lapse mode
42
really wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging details
Olympus VR-320 Vlogging details
36
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of mic port
32
really wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focus
lighter than average (158 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic port
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VR-320 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Olympus VR-320
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Olympus VR-320
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Olympus VR-320
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-05-21 2011-07-19
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - TruePic III
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 25600 1600
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-300mm (12.5x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.0-5.9
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 4.70 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
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 269 gr (0.59 lb) 158 gr (0.35 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 101 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 932 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photographs -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 LI-42B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Storage slots One One
Launch price $448 $179