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Olympus E-P2

 
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
 
Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45

Olympus E-P2 summary

Olympus E-P2 is Olympus's Entry-Level Mirrorless camera originally released on April of 2010. The camera has a 12MP, CMOS Four Thirds sized sensor and has a full resolution of 4032 x 3024.

Olympus brought out this camera as a way to replace the older Olympus E-P1 (Read Full Comparison) & then released the newer Olympus E-P3 (Read Full Comparison) as a way to update this model.

The E-P2 stands at #112 out of 117 in Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras & over all #540 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our collection. Please check our Advanced camera search to get camera results based on your custom factors.

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The following is a chart of specific factors used in the rating system.

Olympus E-P2 family

The Olympus E-P2 is part of a family of cameras. You can read the complete range underneath.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Olympus-PEN-E-P7 front thumbnailOlympus E-P7
E-P2 vs E-P7
20MPFour Thirds8.7 fps2021
Olympus-OM-D-E-M10-IV front thumbnailOlympus E-M10 IV
E-P2 vs E-M10 IV
20MPFour Thirds8.7 fps2020
OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus
Olympus-PEN-E-PL9 front thumbnailOlympus E-PL9
E-P2 vs E-PL9
16MPFour Thirds8.6 fps2018
Olympus-OM-D-E-M10-Mark-III front thumbnailOlympus E-M10 III
E-P2 vs E-M10 III
16MPFour Thirds8.6 fps2017
Olympus-PEN-E-PL8 front thumbnailOlympus E-PL8
E-P2 vs E-PL8
16MPFour Thirds8.0 fps2016
Olympus-OM-D-E-M10-II front thumbnailOlympus E-M10 II
E-P2 vs E-M10 II
16MPFour Thirds8.0 fps2015
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Olympus-PEN-E-PL7 front thumbnailOlympus E-PL7
E-P2 vs E-PL7
16MPFour Thirds8.0 fps2014
Olympus-PEN-E-PL6 front thumbnailOlympus E-PL6
E-P2 vs E-PL6
16MPFour Thirds8.0 fps2014
Olympus-OM-D-E-M10 front thumbnailOlympus E-M10
E-P2 vs E-M10
16MPFour Thirds8.0 fps2014
Olympus-PEN-E-P5 front thumbnailOlympus E-P5
E-P2 vs E-P5
16MPFour Thirds9.0 fps2013
Olympus-PEN-E-PM2 front thumbnailOlympus E-PM2
E-P2 vs E-PM2
16MPFour Thirds8.0 fps2013
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Olympus-PEN-E-PL5 front thumbnailOlympus E-PL5
E-P2 vs E-PL5
16MPFour Thirds8.0 fps2012
Olympus-PEN-E-PM1 front thumbnailOlympus E-PM1
E-P2 vs E-PM1
12MPFour Thirds6.0 fps2011
Olympus-PEN-E-PL3 front thumbnailOlympus E-PL3
E-P2 vs E-PL3
12MPFour Thirds6.0 fps2011
Olympus-PEN-E-P3 front thumbnailOlympus E-P3
E-P2 vs E-P3
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2011
Olympus-PEN-E-PL2 front thumbnailOlympus E-PL2
E-P2 vs E-PL2
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2011
Olympus-PEN-E-PL1s front thumbnailOlympus E-PL1s
E-P2 vs E-PL1s
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2010
Olympus-PEN-E-PL1 front thumbnailOlympus E-PL1
E-P2 vs E-PL1
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2010
Olympus-PEN-E-P2 front thumbnailOlympus E-P212MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2010
Sony Japan Introduces 5G Transmitter for Alpha Cameras
Olympus-PEN-E-P1 front thumbnailOlympus E-P1
E-P2 vs E-P1
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2009

Olympus E-P2 Pros and Cons

Below is a list of advantages and disadvantages of the Olympus E-P2 based on aspects which are often regarded as important in a camera.

above average minimum ISO (100)
delivers RAW files
does have HDMI socket
good sized screen (3 inches)
has face detection autofocus
has manual focus
image stabilization (Sensor based)
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic socket
doesn't have headphone socket
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
fixed screen
has no phase detect autofocus
MP count low (12MP)
pixelated screen (230 k dots)
terrible battery life (300 per charge)
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
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Olympus E-P2 Sensor specifications

The Olympus E-P2 is powered by the TruePic V chip. The sensor measurement on the Olympus E-P2 is 17.3mm x 13mm (Four Thirds). The 225 mm² sensor can capture 4032 x 3024 pixels and aspect ratios of 4:3. The camera features Image Stabilization (Sensor based). In body stabilization is more effective than digital stabilization since the latter might produce cropping.

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The CMOS sensor has 12MP and has a native ISO range of 100 to 6400. RAW files are supported so the user has wider room to maneuver in post.

The image underneath illustrates the E-P2's sensor dimensions when compared to other common sizes. The E-P2 sensor has a crop factor of 2.1 and is displayed in green.

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To get an understanding of various aspect ratios, you can refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Olympus E-P2 dimensions

Olympus E-P2 is 0.78 lb (355 gr or 12.52 oz) & the measurement of the camera is 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4"). The weight of average Entry-Level Mirrorless camera is 329 gr and the Olympus E-P2 is similar compared with its competitors.

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Down below is a image of the Olympus E-P2 alongside a soda to help you to get a sense of its scale.

Olympus PEN E-P2 dimensions scale

The top view just below will provide the button layout on the E-P2.

Olympus PEN E-P2 topview buttons dials

Olympus E-P2 Lens specifications

The E-P2 works with the Micro Four Thirds mount and has 162 lenses available on the market. Below is some of the lenses we have in our collection which will work with the E-P2.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Samyang-21mm-F1.4-ED-AS-UMC-CS--Rokinon-21mm-F1.4-ED-AS-UMC-CS-Micro-Four-Thirds lensSamyang 21mm F1.4 ED AS UMC CS21mmf/1.4275g
Samyang-20mm-F1.8-ED-AS-UMC-Micro-Four-Thirds lensSamyang 20mm F1.8 ED AS UMC20mmf/1.8497g
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Panasonic-Lumix-G-Vario-14-42mm-F3.5-5.6-ASPH-OIS lensPanasonic Lumix G Vario 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH OIS14-42mmf/3.5-5.6 165g
Samyang-8mm-F3.5-Aspherical-IF-MC-Fisheye-Four-Thirds lensSamyang 8mm F3.5 Aspherical IF MC Fisheye8mmf/3.5 443g
Venus-Laowa-17mm-F1.8-Specs lensVenus Laowa 17mm F1.817mmf/1.8172g
Olympus-M.Zuiko-Digital-ED-14-42mm-f3.5-5.6 lensOlympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.614-42mmf/3.5-5.6 150g
C500 Mark II gets new Cinema RAW Light modes from Canon
Olympus-Zuiko-Digital-ED-150mm-f2.0 lensOlympus Zuiko Digital ED 150mm f2.0150mmf/2.0 1610g
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Olympus E-P2 Connectivity

The E-P2 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Digital cameras that include NFC and / or Bluetooth connectivity are able to be controlled wirelessly with smartphones. You can easily send pictures and oftentimes alter settings with no need to connect straight to the camera.

Some applications even provide a Liveview and release the shutter when you are not near the camera. If the camera comes with a HDMI port, it can easily be attached to an external screen. The majority of cameras enable you to recharge the battery pack using the USB socket.

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Olympus E-P2 Video specifications

The highest possible video quality on the Olympus E-P2 is 1280 x 720 and you can shoot in Motion JPEG format. 720p is low for today's standards. You should really aim for a minimum 1080p quality for decent video. The camera does not offer a microphone and / or headphone socket so you have got little control over the audio. It is perhaps best to buy a different model should you want decent audio for your video clips.

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Olympus E-P2 Weather Sealing

There is no environment sealing on the Olympus E-P2 so you need to be careful in wet and dusty conditions.

Olympus E-P2 Display and Viewfinder

The Olympus E-P2 has a 3" fixed display supporting a resolution of 230k dots.

Unfortunately the display is not a touch screen.

Olympus PEN E-P2 screen and viewfinder Jaw-Dropping Space Capture Exposes Earth's Mesmerizing Golden Luminescence

The ViewFinder specifications for Olympus E-P2 are the following:

  • ViewFinder Electronic (optional)

Viewfinders are quite handy during sunny outdoor conditions which will make the camera display washed out and difficult to see.

Olympus E-P2 Shutter specifications

Olympus E-P2 continuous shooting rate is 3.0 frames per second. The maximum shutter speed is 1/4000s.

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Olympus E-P2 Flash and Hot shoe specifications

Olympus E-P2 features external flash support but is without integrated flash. The maximum flash sync is 1/180s.

Olympus E-P2 Autofocusing specifications

Olympus E-P2 features just Contrast Detect Autofocus & does not have Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection focusing is a lot more faster and precise when compared to Contrast Detect focusing. The camera has Face detect which is useful for taking photos of people.

The AF system has 11 focus points to select from. Olympus E-P2 boasts manual focus in case it is required during low light or you require more accurate control on focus.

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Olympus E-P2 Battery life

The battery life (BLS-1) on the Olympus E-P2 is made to last for 300 shots according to the CIPA specifications making it lesser when compared to it's competitors. The average Entry-Level Mirrorless camera battery life is 343. Fujifilm X-S20 has the best (750) battery life within this range of cameras.

Following is a listing of Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras that have the strongest battery life:

Olympus E-P2 for varying kinds of photography

The following graph gives a summary of the Olympus E-P2 for varying kinds of photography. To learn more, visit the specific paragraph underneath.

Olympus E-P2 as a Portrait photography camera

The Olympus E-P2 gets a points tally of 60 which is modest, and means the camera is fairly suitable for portrait photography. Taking portraits favors greatly towards sensor size, RAW support along with the ability to work with off-camera flash.

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focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)

Olympus E-P2 Street photography features

With a nice points tally of 74, the Olympus E-P2 is a very decent pick to use in street photography. A very good street photography camera has a fine balance of picture quality plus portability.

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image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no moving screen

Olympus E-P2 as a Sports photography camera

A awful sports photography rating of 40 suggests the Olympus E-P2 is simply not suitable for shooting sports. A camera needs good autofocus plus continuous shooting for sports photography.

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has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery (300 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF

Olympus E-P2 Travel photography information

Weight is pretty critical when buying a camera for travel. All things considered, the Olympus E-P2 gets a awful 43 as a travelling camera which is simply not suitable to take with you on your travels.

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does not have Timelapse mode
terrible battery power (300 per charge)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly

Olympus E-P2 as a Landscape photography camera

For anyone who is looking to buy a camera for landscape photos, the most significant aspect will no doubt be image quality. The Olympus E-P2 and it's reasonable grade of 60 for a landscape camera is somewhat appropriate amongst its competition.

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has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
bad battery life (300 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse function

Olympus E-P2 Vlogging info

A vlogging camera should posses a moving display screen, microphone input and if possible image stabilization. Taking all things in to account, the Olympus E-P2 is simply not suitable for vlogging as it delivers a awful rating of 29.

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has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
does not posses selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone support

Olympus E-P2 Alternatives

If you are trying to find alternatives to the E-P2, below is a range of the top scored cameras which fall within the class of Entry-Level Mirrorless.

The line chart down below will give you a bird's eye view of the E-P2 vs it's top ranking rivals mentioned earlier.

Following are additional cameras you might take a look at as alternatives. To read through a comprehensive comparison, simply click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand Name
Olympus
Model
Olympus PEN E-P2
Class
Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed
2010-04-22
Physical type
Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Powered by
TruePic V
Sensor size
Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions
17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area
224.9mm²
Sensor resolution
12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
4:3
Peak resolution
4032 x 3024
RAW format
Highest native ISO
6400
Lowest native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points
11
Lens
Lens mount
Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses
107
Focal length multiplier
2.1
Screen
Display type
Fixed Type
Display sizing
3 inches
Display resolution
230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology
HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
Electronic (optional)
DXO scores
DXO Overall score
56
DXO Color Depth score
21.5
DXO Dynamic range score
10.4
DXO Low light score
505
Features
Minimum shutter speed
60s
Fastest shutter speed
1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate
3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation
Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range
no built-in flash
Flash options
Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize
1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions
1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution
1280x720
Video file format
Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
355 grams (0.78 lbs)
Physical dimensions
121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4")
Other
Battery life
300 pictures
Battery type
Battery Pack
Battery model
BLS-1
Self timer
Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage
SD/SDHC card
Card slots
Single
Pricing at release
$799