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Olympus Pen E-PL2

Based on 46 reviews

Excellent:

9
Good:

29
Average:

6
Bad:

2

Pros

Design, Build, Handling and competitive image quality
Beautiful image quality, Compact body, Large image sensor, Digital accessories port and hotshoe, Dual menu system tailored toward either beginners or seasoned photographers, Silent autofocus during video recording with kit lens.
Good image for the price, Sharper LCD, Better controls, Dedicated video record button, Excellent fit and finish, Popup flash, Penpal Bluetooth addon, Cheap lens options, Fun art filters.
Comfortable design, Interchangeable lenses, Good automatic mode, Very good image quality
Less flashy but more functional redesigned camera body handles like a comfortable DSLR rather than an awkward rangefinder, Comfy, textured faux-leather handgrip, Contrast detection based autofocus system functions much faster than previous models witho...
The E-PL2 delivers excellent photo quality, with an extremely customizable interface.
Ergonomically comfortable, with textured hand grip, Improved 1442mm f/3.55.6 Zuiko MSC zoom kit lens, Inbody image stabilization, Manual exposure and art filters in movie controls, Accessory Port 2 for expanded functionality, Builtin wireless flash c
Improved styling; slightly improved low-light performance; ultra-quiet autofocus with new MSC lens.
Visually appealing image quality, Compact, light & good looking exterior, Snappy operation, fast & quiet AF.
Very good image quality, Built-in Image Stabilisation, Compact, light kit zoom with quick AF, Hot Shoe and accessory port, Highly customisable.
Good photo quality; intuitive button layout; better LCD display; faster focusing and image processing; smooth zoom and focusing for kit lens.
High quality results, Compact size, Value for money, Stylish retro design
Stylish body and nice size, Low-noise images, Quality upgrades for the built-in filters and scene selectors, iAuto delivers impressive results
Good resolution and detail at base ISO, Compact camera/kit lens package, Nice screen with good resolution (460K pixels), Good build quality and handling, Generally responsive and snappy operation, Reliable metering, Good AF speed with kit lens, Decent hig

Cons

No viewfinder may put off some and performance not up to a similar priced DSLR
Low light performance isn't as good as cameras with APS-C-size image sensors, Proprietary USB port.
Still no dedicated viewfinder builtin, No changes to the sensor, Not ideal in low light, Penpal not quick for big photos, "JellO" wobble in panning video.
No optical viewfinder, Poor lowlight video quality, No external mic port, Confusing menu system
Archaic menu system is confusing and unnecessarily complicated, Live Guide II system should be easier to access and adjust, customize, Shooting tips in Live Guide II suffer from bad translation, Buttons are too small; no exterior control for ISO, ISO s...
Performance has improved, but the E-PL2 still couldn't be classified as fast overall.
No builtin external mic jack, Complex menu system, Limited to AVI movie format (Motion JPEG OpenDML).
High ISO noise performance.
Poor command dial action, Images noisy, especially after ISO 800, Could use a few more dedicated buttons like ISO, WB
Screen hard to see in bright conditions, Complex menu system, Mono audio mic, Disappointing sequential shooting, Movie mode still stuck at 720p Motion JPEG.
Menu can be confusing for first-time users.
Fiddly operation of some controls, Limited lens range
Nearly as expensive as a capable DSLR, No view finder, Could be underwhelming for experts, overwhelming for beginners
Exposure control with the rear dial not great if you change settings frequently, Inefficient movie format results in very large file sizes, No orientation sensor means having to rotate every portrait image manually, Menu system can be a little overwhelmin

By Amateur Photographer on August 25, 2011

With the Olympus Pen E-PL2’s simple styling, ease of use and competitive price, it will appeal to entry-level photographers who don’t want to dip their toes into the seemingly murky waters of buying and using a DSLR. The addition of a range of...

78
By The Luminous Landscape on June 01, 2011

The Olympus E-PL2, as well as other Olympus PEN models, share the Micro Four Thirds lens mount with Panasonic. This means that any MFT lens, or other lens via an MFT adaptor, can work on any camera. But something worth considering is that while...

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By Digital Photography School on June 01, 2011

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...

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By DPexpert on May 19, 2011

The Olympus micro four thirds cameras are ideal for anyone who wants decent image quality in a smallish body. And that the lenses are interchangeable is a bonus. For owners of OM lenses there is the option of an adapter that works well, but focusing...

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By What Digital Camera on May 05, 2011

There's no denying that the E-PL2 is a welcome development over the E-PL1 and, in many ways, is the most rounded of the non-viewfinder Compact System Cameras.Starting with its looks, it's a balanced blend of retro and modern that eclipses its...

87
By CNET Australia on May 05, 2011

Operational quirks aside, the E-PL2 is a great addition to the burgeoning interchangeable lens camera...

81
By Macworld UK on April 18, 2011

The E-PL2 is Olympus’ fourth Micro Four Thirds system digital Pen camera to take design inspiration from the 1960s film camera series of the same name. And, like its three predecessors since 2009 in the E-P1, E-P2 and direct forebear the E-PL1, it...

80
By TechRadar on April 14, 2011

Olympus Pen E-PL2: OverviewOlympus's Pen range of Micro Four Thirds compact system cameras seems to have captured the imagination of more photographers than its Four Thirds system ever did. The main reason for this is likely to be that the Micro...

60
By G4tv.com on April 13, 2011

Video Review: The Olympus PEN E-PL2 digital camera makes taking high quality pictures easier than ever with its TruePic image processor, 720p video recording and creative art filters for $550. Chris Hardwick and Candace Bailey review the user friendly...

80
By NeoCamera on April 09, 2011

The Olympus PEN E-PL2 proves to be an interesting camera with more capabilities and sophistication than expected from an entry-level model. The Micro Four-Thirds sensor used in the E-PL2 delivers excellent results with low image noise and good...

60