A potelyt.com – Photography & Imaging Resources
ad

When you use links on apotelyt.com to buy products,
the site may earn a commission.

PW

Olympus E-600 vs E-P2

The Olympus E-600 and the Olympus PEN E-P2 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in August 2009 and November 2009. The E-600 is a DSLR, while the E-P2 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. Both cameras are equipped with a Four Thirds sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 12.2 megapixels.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Olympus E-600
versus
Olympus E-P2
Olympus E-600   Olympus E-P2
Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
Four Thirds lenses Micro Four Thirds lenses
12.2 MP – Four Thirds sensor 12.2 MP – Four Thirds sensor
no Video 720/30p Video
ISO 100-3,200 ISO 100-6,400
Optical viewfinder Viewfinder optional
2.7" LCD – 230k dots 3.0" LCD – 230k dots
Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive) Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
4 shutter flaps per second 3 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilizationIn-body stabilization
500 shots per battery charge300 shots per battery charge
130 x 94 x 60 mm, 535 g 121 x 70 x 36 mm, 355 g
logo
Check E-600 offers at
ebay.com
logo
Check E-P2 offers at
ebay.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus E-600 and the Olympus PEN E-P2? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

ad

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Olympus E-600 and the Olympus E-P2 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The E-P2 can be obtained in three different colors (black, silver, white), while the E-600 is only available in black.

Size Olympus E-600 vs Olympus E-P2
Compare E-600 versus E-P2 top
Comparison E-600 or E-P2 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Olympus E-P2 is considerably smaller (31 percent) than the Olympus E-600. Moreover, the E-P2 is markedly lighter (34 percent) than the E-600. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the E-600 nor the E-P2 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Both cameras have similarly sized sensors, but DSLRs have a larger flange-to-focal plane distance than mirrorless cameras, which imposes contraints on the optical engineering process and generally leads to bigger and heavier lenses. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Four Thirds Lens Catalog (E-600) and the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog (E-P2). Mirrorless cameras, such as the E-P2, have moreover the advantage that they can use many lenses from other systems via adapters, as they have a relatively short flange to focal plane distance.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

scroll hint
Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Olympus E-600 130 mm 94 mm 60 mm 535 g 500 n Aug 2009 449ebay.com
2.
 
Olympus E-P2 121 mm 70 mm 36 mm 355 g 300 n Nov 2009 799ebay.com
3.
 
Olympus E-P3 122 mm 69 mm 34 mm 369 g 330 n Jun 2011 799ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-PL2 114 mm 72 mm 42 mm 362 g 280 n Jan 2011 599ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-PL3 110 mm 64 mm 37 mm 313 g 300 n Jun 2011 599ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-PM1 110 mm 64 mm 34 mm 265 g 330 n Jun 2011 499ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-PL1 115 mm 72 mm 42 mm 334 g 290 n Feb 2010 599ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-450 130 mm 91 mm 53 mm 440 g 500 n Mar 2009 499ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus E-620 130 mm 94 mm 60 mm 521 g 500 n Feb 2009 699ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus E-P1 121 mm 70 mm 36 mm 355 g 300 n Jun 2009 799ebay.com
11.
 
Olympus E-30 142 mm 108 mm 75 mm 701 g 750 n Nov 2008 1,299ebay.com
12.
 
Olympus E-420 130 mm 91 mm 53 mm 440 g 500 n Mar 2008 599ebay.com
13.
 
Olympus E-520 136 mm 92 mm 68 mm 535 g 750 n May 2008 699ebay.com
14.
 
Olympus E-510 136 mm 92 mm 68 mm 538 g 750 n Mar 2007 799ebay.com
15.
 
Panasonic GH1 124 mm 90 mm 45 mm 385 g 300 n Mar 2009 899ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
padding

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The E-600 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 44 percent) than the E-P2, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a Four Thirds sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 2.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

Technology-wise, the E-P2 uses a more advanced image processing engine (TruePic V) than the E-600 (TruePic III+), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

Olympus E-600 and Olympus E-P2 sensor measures

The two cameras under review do not only share the same sensor size, but also offer an identical resolution of 12.2 megapixels. This similarity in sensor specs implies that both the E-600 and the E-P2 have the same pixel density, as well as the same pixel size. Moreover, the two cameras were released in close succession, so that their sensors are from the same technological generation.

The Olympus E-600 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Olympus PEN E-P2 are ISO 100 to ISO 6400 (no boost).

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

E-600 versus E-P2 MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

scroll hint
Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Olympus E-600 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024none21.510.354155
2.
 
Olympus E-P2 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024720/30p21.510.450556
3.
 
Olympus E-P3 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 30241080/60i20.810.153651
4.
 
Olympus E-PL2 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024720/30p21.410.257355
5.
 
Olympus E-PL3 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 30241080/60i20.910.349952
6.
 
Olympus E-PM1 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 30241080/60i21.010.349952
7.
 
Olympus E-PL1 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024720/30p21.510.148754
8.
 
Olympus E-450 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.510.551256
9.
 
Olympus E-620 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024none21.310.353655
10.
 
Olympus E-P1 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024720/30p21.410.453655
11.
 
Olympus E-30 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024none21.310.453055
12.
 
Olympus E-420 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.510.452756
13.
 
Olympus E-520 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.410.454855
14.
 
Olympus E-510 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.210.044252
15.
 
Panasonic GH1 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 30001080/24p21.611.677264
padding

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The E-P2 indeed provides for movie recording, while the E-600 does not. The highest resolution format that the E-P2 can use is 720/30p.

ad

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the E-600 has an optical viewfinder, which can be very useful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the E-P2 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. That said, the E-P2 can be equipped with an optional viewfinder – the VF-2. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Olympus E-600, the Olympus E-P2, and comparable cameras.

scroll hint
Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Olympus E-600optical n2.7 / 230 swivel n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y Y
2.
 
Olympus E-P2optional n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s n Y
3.
 
Olympus E-P3optional n3.0 / 614 fixed Y 1/4000s 3.0/s Y Y
4.
 
Olympus E-PL2optional n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y Y
5.
 
Olympus E-PL3optional n3.0 / 460 tilting n 1/4000s 5.5/s n Y
6.
 
Olympus E-PM1optional n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 5.5/s n Y
7.
 
Olympus E-PL1optional n2.7 / 230 fixed n 1/2000s 3.0/s Y Y
8.
 
Olympus E-450optical n2.7 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y n
9.
 
Olympus E-620optical n2.7 / 230 swivel n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y Y
10.
 
Olympus E-P1none n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s n Y
11.
 
Olympus E-30optical Y2.7 / 230 swivel n 1/8000s 5.0/s Y Y
12.
 
Olympus E-420optical n2.7 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y n
13.
 
Olympus E-520optical n2.7 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y Y
14.
 
Olympus E-510optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y Y
15.
 
Panasonic GH11440 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
padding

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The E-600 has one, while the E-P2 does not. While the built-in flash of the E-600 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The E-600 has an articulated LCD that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in snapping selfies. In contrast, the E-P2 does not have a selfie-screen.

The E-600 writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or xD Picture cards, while the E-P2 uses SDHC cards. The E-600 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the E-P2 only has one slot.

ad

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Olympus E-600 and Olympus PEN E-P2 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

scroll hint
Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Olympus E-600Y- / ----2.0---
2.
 
Olympus E-P2Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
3.
 
Olympus E-P3Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
4.
 
Olympus E-PL2Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
5.
 
Olympus E-PL3Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
6.
 
Olympus E-PM1Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
7.
 
Olympus E-PL1Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
8.
 
Olympus E-450Y- / ----2.0---
9.
 
Olympus E-620Y- / ----2.0---
10.
 
Olympus E-P1Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
11.
 
Olympus E-30Y- / ----2.0---
12.
 
Olympus E-420Y- / ----2.0---
13.
 
Olympus E-520Y- / ----2.0---
14.
 
Olympus E-510Y- / ----2.0---
15.
 
Panasonic GH1Ystereo / -Y-mini2.0---
padding

Both the E-600 and the E-P2 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The E-P2 was replaced by the Olympus E-P3, while the E-600 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the E-600 and E-P2 can be found, respectively, in the Olympus E-600 Manual (free pdf) or the online Olympus E-P2 Manual.

ad

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Which of the two cameras – the Olympus E-600 or the Olympus E-P2 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.


Arguments in favor of the Olympus E-600:

  • Easier framing: Has an optical viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
  • More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
  • More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (4 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (500 versus 300) on a single battery charge.
  • Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
  • Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (44 percent cheaper at launch).


Reasons to prefer the Olympus PEN E-P2:

  • Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (TruePic V vs TruePic III+).
  • Broader imaging potential: Can capture not only stills but also 720/30p video.
  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 2.7") for image review and settings control.
  • More compact: Is smaller (121x70mm vs 130x94mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
  • Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 180g or 34 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
  • More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the E-600 emerges as the winner of the contest (8 : 6 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

E-600 08:06 E-P2

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus E-600 and the Olympus E-P2 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the E-600 or the E-P2 perform in practice. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

scroll hint
Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Olympus E-600..........4.5/5 Aug 2009 449ebay.com
2.
 
Olympus E-P23/5+..69/1004/54.5/5 Nov 2009 799ebay.com
3.
 
Olympus E-P3..83/100..74/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2011 799ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-PL23/583/100..71/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2011 599ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-PL33/5+ +..72/1004.5/54/5 Jun 2011 599ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-PM1..86/100..71/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2011 499ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-PL1..86/100..69/1004/54.5/5 Feb 2010 599ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-450........4/54/5 Mar 2009 499ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus E-6203/588/100..72/1004.5/55/5 Feb 2009 699ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus E-P1..+..66/1004/54.5/5 Jun 2009 799ebay.com
11.
 
Olympus E-30......71/1004.5/54/5 Nov 2008 1,299ebay.com
12.
 
Olympus E-420..85/100..+ +4/54.5/5 Mar 2008 599ebay.com
13.
 
Olympus E-520..87/100..+ +4.5/54.5/5 May 2008 699ebay.com
14.
 
Olympus E-510..89/100..+ +3.5/54.5/5 Mar 2007 799ebay.com
15.
 
Panasonic GH1..+ +..72/1004.5/54.5/5 Mar 2009 899ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
padding

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

logo
Check E-600 offers at
ebay.com
logo
Check E-P2 offers at
ebay.com

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just use the search menu below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

~
    loader
    ad

    Specifications: Olympus E-600 vs Olympus E-P2

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Olympus E-600 Olympus E-P2
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Four Thirds lenses Micro Four Thirds lenses
    Launch Date August 2009 November 2009
    Launch Price USD 449 USD 799
    Sensor Specs Olympus E-600 Olympus E-P2
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format Four Thirds Sensor Four Thirds Sensor
    Sensor Size 17.3 x 13.0 mm 17.3 x 13.0 mm
    Sensor Area 224.9 mm2 224.9 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 21.6 mm 21.6 mm
    Crop Factor 2.0x 2.0x
    Sensor Resolution 12.2 Megapixels 12.2 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4032 x 3024 pixels 4032 x 3024 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 4.29 μm 4.29 μm
    Pixel Density 5.42 MP/cm2 5.42 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability no Video 720/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 3,200 ISO 100 - 6,400 ISO
    Image Processor TruePic III+ TruePic V
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 55 56
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 21.5 21.5
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 10.3 10.4
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 541 505
    Screen Specs Olympus E-600 Olympus E-P2
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Viewfinder optional
    Viewfinder Field of View 95%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.48x
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 2.7inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 230k dots 230k dots
    LCD Attachment Swivel screen Fixed screen
    Shooting Specs Olympus E-600 Olympus E-P2
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 4 shutter flaps/s 3 shutter flaps/s
    Image StabilizationIn-body stabilizationIn-body stabilization
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium CF or XD cards SDHC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Dual card slots Single card slot
    Connectivity Specs Olympus E-600 Olympus E-P2
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port no HDMI mini HDMI
    Wifi Support no Wifi no Wifi
    Body Specs Olympus E-600 Olympus E-P2
    Battery Type Olympus BLS-1 Olympus BLS-1
    Battery Life (CIPA)500 shots per charge300 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 130 x 94 x 60 mm
    (5.1 x 3.7 x 2.4 in)
    121 x 70 x 36 mm
    (4.8 x 2.8 x 1.4 in)
    Camera Weight 535 g (18.9 oz) 355 g (12.5 oz)
    logo
    Check E-600 offers at
    ebay.com
    logo
    Check E-P2 offers at
    ebay.com

    Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.

    You are here Home  »  CAM-parator  »  Olympus E-600 vs Olympus E-P2