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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony W560

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony W560 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
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PM1
Sony W560
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2011
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony W560 Overview

Here is a detailed analysis of the Olympus E-PM2 and Sony W560, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Ultracompact by rivals Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the W560 (14MP) is pretty similar but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and W560 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor size.

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The E-PM2 was revealed 2 years later than the W560 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W560 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief overview of how the E-PM2 scores vs the W560 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Sony W560

 E-PM2 W560 
LaunchedMay 2013January 2011Fresher by 29 months
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W560 over the Olympus E-PM2

 W560 E-PM2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Sony W560

 E-PM2 W560 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony W560 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera, you'll need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PM2 has physical dimensions 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 Sony W560 has dimensions of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PM2 and Sony W560 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the E-PM2 and the W560.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony W560 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM2 and W560 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony W560 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony W560 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to visualize the gap between sensor sizing just by going over technical specs. The photograph underneath will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM2 and W560.

As you can tell, both the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PM2 using its bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Olympus E-PM2 will offer greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will let you crop shots a little more aggressively. The fresher E-PM2 provides an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony W560 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony W560 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony W560 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography details
Sony W560 Portrait photography details
71
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
28
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
no manual focus
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography features
Sony W560 Street photography features
79
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
supports touch to focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
fixed screen
57
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PM2
Sports photography with Sony W560
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
no phase detect auto focus
35
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Travel photography camera
Sony W560 as a Travel photography camera
66
supports touch to focus
good resolution (16 megapixels)
missing Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
65
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (26mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography info
Sony W560 Landscape photography info
74
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
missing Timelapse function
42
pretty wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
no manual exposure
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Vlogging camera
Sony W560 as a Vlogging camera
36
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone socket
29
pretty wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone port
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony W560 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Sony W560
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Released 2013-05-21 2011-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip - 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 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-104mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.7-5.7
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 2 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 8.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 3.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269 gr (0.59 lbs) 110 gr (0.24 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" 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 shots -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $448 $139