Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus E-PL2

The fourth-generation Olympus PEN E-PL2, with its svelte metal/composite body, gorgeous high-resolution 3" LCD viewfinder, and enhanced low-light performance, is a welcome upgrade to the E-PL1 and viable alternative the more expensive E-P2.

The Micro Four Thirds system turned two years old last October, and a lot has happened since Panasonic debuted the DSLR-inspired, but mirrorless Lumix DMC-G1. What was then a brand new system has had time to mature, and mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras (ILCs) now make up one of the fastest-growing and competitive segments of the consumer digital camera market. Although the Micro Four Thirds system got in first, Panasonic and Olympus haven't had everything their own way. After a decent head start, Panasonic's G-system and the Olympus PEN-series have been joined by Samsung's small-but-growing NX range, and Sony's innovative NEX-3 and NEX-5. All this competition has resulted in a rash of new releases from both 'original' mirrorless ILC manufacturers in recent months, as Panasonic and Olympus attempt to consolidate their early lead and grab as much market share as possible. Part of that strategy is to aim lower, at novice rather than solely enthusiast consumers. The Olympus E-PL1, released in February 2009, was designed to appeal to precisely this market, filling the gap between high-end compact cameras and enthusiast-oriented, mostly DSLR-inspired, ILCs. The E-PL1 dispensed with the control dials of the E-P1 and E-P2, but retained the same sensor (albeit with a lighter AA filter), in a smaller, considerably more compact-like body. It also boasted - gasp! - a built-in flash; something which Olympus opted to dispense with in both the E-P1 and E-P2. The E-PL2 has the same sensor as the E-PL1 and doesn't officially replace it, but sits above it in the product line, beneath the E-P2. As well as a physical makeover (the E-PL2 reminds us slightly of the rather beautiful Stylus Verve) its ergonomics have been refreshed too. The all-button operation of the E-PL1 has been ditched, in favor of a more conventional combination button/dial approach, with a rear plate that's much closer in design to the E-P2 than the E-PL1. The LCD screen is better too - its size has increased to 3 inches and it doubles in resolution, topping out at 460K dots. Indeed with its 3:2 aspect ratio and deep blue anti-reflective coating, it bears a startling resemblance to the unit used on Panasonic's DMC-GF2, although without that model's touch-sensitivity.

Olympus E-PL2 is a 12.0MP Entry-Level Mirrorless camera with a Four Thirds sized CMOS sensor and Micro Four Thirds mount. Read our E-PL2 review to find its pros and cons.

The retro-tastic PEN range finally comes of age with this glorious swappable lens shooter.

The brand new Olympus E-PL2 is the second PEN camera aimed directly at the compact owner looking to upgrade to a more capable, but still portable and relatively inexpensive, camera. Key improvements over the year-old E-PL1 model include a larger LCD screen, faster auto-focusing, and a new kit lens. Read our expert Olympus E-PL2 review to find out if it hits the mark.

This micro four thirds system camera is a lower cost alternative to the EP-2

Olympus E-PL2 review, find out how the E-PL2 stacks up against the competition in our real-world review with in-depth image quality comparisons.

FacebookTweet So – you have a Leica M8 or M9 (or even an MP, M6 or previous film-based M body). But what do you do...

The latest entry-level PEN camera comes with a new kit lens, adjustable Art Filters and support for additional accessories.Announced in early January, the E-PL2 is a fourth-generation model in Olympus's PEN family of compact interchangeable lens cameras. Featuring the same 12.3-megapixel Live MOS Sensor as the E-PL1, the new model has a redesigned user interface and larger, higher-resolution LCD monitor. A built-in flash has been added, along with a new M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II MSC kit lens that is 25% lighter than its predecessor.

Short Version To be sure, Olympus' micro 4/3s cameras, the E-PL1 and the E-PL2, are changing the way we think about removable lens cameras. However, I worry that high price coupled with potentially limiting features will cause some shooters to shy away from this line. While that may be the case, I encourage anyone thinking about a point and shoot or ultrazoom camera to look into these clever and high-quality shooters.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen the PEN E-PL1 and this one comes at the right time — and price — for an entry level camera following the Four Thirds plan. In keeping with the PEN format the camera is mirrorless, dispensing with the pentaprism and optical viewing. The review Olympus PEN E-PL2 was

An express field test review of the Olympus PEN E-PL2 with comparison improvements on E-PL1 including sample photos and video