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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony W830

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W830 front
Portability
96
Imaging
45
Features
26
Overall
37

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony W830 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
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PM1
Sony W830
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-6.3) lens
  • 122g - 93 x 52 x 23mm
  • Introduced January 2014
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony W830 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Olympus E-PM2 versus Sony W830, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the W830 (20MP) is fairly comparable but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and W830 (1/2.3") possess different sensor size.

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The E-PM2 was announced 7 months before the W830 and they are both of a similar age. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W830 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going in to a in depth comparison, below is a brief view of how the E-PM2 matches up vs the W830 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Sony W830

 E-PM2 W830 
Manually focus More precise focus
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W830 over the Olympus E-PM2

 W830 E-PM2 
IntroducedJanuary 2014May 2013Fresher by 7 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Sony W830

 E-PM2 W830 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony W830 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera often, you should factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PM2 comes with exterior 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) and the Sony W830 has sizing of 93mm x 52mm x 23mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 122 grams (0.27 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PM2 versus Sony W830 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PM2 vs the W830.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony W830 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-PM2 and W830 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony W830 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony W830 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizing simply by going through specifications. The photograph here might provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM2 and W830.

Plainly, both of these cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PM2 using its larger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Sony W830 will show more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The older E-PM2 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony W830 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony W830 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony W830 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography info
Sony W830 Portrait photography info
71
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
38
MP count decent (20MP)
has face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no manual mode
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography advice
Sony W830 Street photography advice
79
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
good high ISO (25,600)
fixed screen
59
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography highlights
Sony W830 Sports photography highlights
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
has no phase detect autofocus
43
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography info
Sony W830 Travel photography info
66
boasts touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
missing Timelapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
67
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
no Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography advice
Sony W830 Landscape photography advice
74
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
missing Timelapse mode
41
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PM2
Vlogging with Sony W830
36
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone jack
32
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic port
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony W830 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Sony W830
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W830
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM2 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W830
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Launched 2013-05-21 2014-01-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
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 16MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 5152 x 3864
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 35 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-200mm (8.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-6.3
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 2 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 2.80 m (with ISO auto)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto / Flash On / Slow Synchro / Flash Off / Advanced Flash
External flash
AE bracketing
WB 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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG H.264
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269 gr (0.59 lbs) 122 gr (0.27 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 93 x 52 x 23mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 932 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 images -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo, microSD/microSDHC
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $448 $128