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Olympus E-PM2 vs Samsung NX500

Portability
89
Imaging
53
Features
63
Overall
57
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Samsung NX500 front
Portability
87
Imaging
68
Features
80
Overall
72

Olympus E-PM2 vs Samsung NX500 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
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PM1
Samsung NX500
(Full Review)
  • 28MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Boost to 51200)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 287g - 120 x 64 x 43mm
  • Introduced February 2015
  • Succeeded the Samsung NX300
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Samsung NX500 Overview

Its time to examine more in depth at the Olympus E-PM2 and Samsung NX500, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by brands Olympus and Samsung. There is a large difference among the image resolutions of the E-PM2 (16MP) and NX500 (28MP) and the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and NX500 (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PM2 was unveiled 20 months earlier than the NX500 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going through a in depth comparison, below is a simple view of how the E-PM2 grades vs the NX500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Samsung NX500

 E-PM2 NX500 

Reasons to pick Samsung NX500 over the Olympus E-PM2

 NX500 E-PM2 
IntroducedFebruary 2015May 2013Fresher by 20 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1036k460kSharper display (+576k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Samsung NX500

 E-PM2 NX500 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus E-PM2 vs Samsung NX500 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry your camera regularly, you will have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PM2 provides outside measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Samsung NX500 has sizing of 120mm x 64mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PM2 and Samsung NX500 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the E-PM2 and the NX500.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Samsung NX500 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM2 and NX500 is 89 and 87 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Samsung NX500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Samsung NX500 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing only by viewing technical specs. The visual here may offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM2 and NX500.

As you have seen, both cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PM2 using its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF trickier and the Samsung NX500 will render more detail having an extra 12MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos far more aggressively. The older E-PM2 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Samsung NX500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Samsung NX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Samsung NX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PM2
Portrait photography with Samsung NX500
71
manual focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
supports RAW files
80
you can focus manually
great sensor resolution (28 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography advice
Samsung NX500 Street photography advice
79
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
features focus by touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
no moving screen
81
tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
supports focus by touch
great ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography details
Samsung NX500 Sports photography details
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
does not have phase detect AF
75
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
great sensor resolution (28MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking focus
supports phase detect AF
does not have image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography info
Samsung NX500 Travel photography info
66
features focus by touch
decent megapixels (16MP)
missing Timelapse mode
does not posses selfie friendly screen
78
supports bluetooth
supports focus by touch
great sensor resolution (28 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Landscape photography camera
Samsung NX500 as a Landscape photography camera
74
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
80
you can focus manually
change lenses (Samsung NX mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
great sensor resolution (28MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
no low pass filter
great ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging advice
Samsung NX500 Vlogging advice
36
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
missing microphone socket
34
touchscreen capability
features face detect focusing
video res high (4096 x 2160 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
lack of mic support
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Samsung NX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Samsung NX500
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Samsung NX500
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Samsung
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM2 Samsung NX500
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2013-05-21 2015-02-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - DRIMe 5
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 28 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 6480 x 4320
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Highest boosted ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 35 209
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Samsung NX
Available lenses 107 32
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 1,036 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting rate 8.0fps 9.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Smart flash, auto, auto w/redeye reduction, fill flash, fill w/redeye reduction, 1st-curtain, 2nd-curtain, off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250s -
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) 3840 x 2160 (30p), 4096 x 2160 (24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 4096x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG H.265
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
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 269 gr (0.59 lbs) 287 gr (0.63 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 120 x 64 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 72 87
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 24.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 13.9
DXO Low light rating 932 1379
Other
Battery life 360 images 370 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 - 30 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $448 $800