Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony A580

On this page, we are matching up the Olympus E-PM2 versus Sony A580, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the A580 (16MP) is fairly comparable but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and A580 (APS-C) offer different sensor sizes.

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The E-PM2 was launched 2 years after the A580 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting into a full comparison, here is a simple summation of how the E-PM2 matches up against the A580 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PM2 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A580. The complete galleries are available at Olympus E-PM2 Gallery and Sony A580 Gallery.

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera, you have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM2 has outside dimensions 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 Sony A580 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PM2 versus Sony A580 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you select at the time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the E-PM2 vs the A580.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM2 and A580 is 89 and 64 respectively.

Usually, it can be tough to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes merely by checking out specifications. The image here should give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PM2 and A580.

Plainly, the two cameras have the same resolution but different sensor sizes. The E-PM2 uses the smaller sensor which will make obtaining shallower depth of field more challenging. The more modern E-PM2 should have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.