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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VR-340

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Olympus VR-340 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VR-340 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
  • Released May 2013
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PM1
Olympus VR-340
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-240mm (F3.0-5.7) lens
  • 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Announced January 2012
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VR-340 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VR-340, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both designed by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the VR-340 (16MP) is very similar but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and VR-340 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PM2 was manufactured 17 months after the VR-340 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus VR-340 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a step-by-step comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-PM2 grades versus the VR-340 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Olympus VR-340

 E-PM2 VR-340 
AnnouncedMay 2013January 2012Newer by 17 months
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus VR-340 over the Olympus E-PM2

 VR-340 E-PM2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Olympus VR-340

 E-PM2 VR-340 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Display resolution460k460kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VR-340 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-PM2 offers outside measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Olympus VR-340 has specifications of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VR-340 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using at the time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the E-PM2 versus the VR-340.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VR-340 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM2 and VR-340 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VR-340 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VR-340 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's tough to see the gap between sensor dimensions purely by reviewing specs. The pic below will offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM2 and VR-340.

All in all, the 2 cameras posses the exact same MP but not the same sensor dimensions. The E-PM2 offers the larger sensor which will make obtaining shallower depth of field less difficult. The more recent E-PM2 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VR-340 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VR-340 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VR-340 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus VR-340 as a Portrait photography camera
71
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
34
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography features
Olympus VR-340 Street photography features
79
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
offers focus by touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
no articulating screen
63
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (125g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PM2
Sports photography with Olympus VR-340
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect autofocus
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography info
Olympus VR-340 Travel photography info
66
offers focus by touch
MP count good (16 megapixels)
no Time Lapse mode
does not offer selfie friendly display
69
lighter than competitors (125 grams)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
missing Timelapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PM2
Landscape photography with Olympus VR-340
74
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
no Time Lapse mode
43
rather wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PM2
Vlogging with Olympus VR-340
36
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not offer selfie friendly display
no external mic socket
33
rather wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focusing
lighter than competitors (125g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone socket
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus VR-340 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Olympus VR-340
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Olympus VR-340
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Olympus VR-340
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2013-05-21 2012-01-10
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
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 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 35 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-240mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.0-5.7
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - 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 rate 8.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 4.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
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 269 grams (0.59 lbs) 125 grams (0.28 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
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 -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Launch cost $448 $130