I’m a big fan of the micro four-thirds format. You get the flexibility of interchangeable lenses, a larger sensor, and all kinds of SLR-like controls in a package that isn’t much bigger than a point-and-shoot. But which camera reigns supreme?

Kai from Digital Rev has put together a fun comparison video between the two newest entrants in this realm: the Panasonic GF2 and the Olympus E-PL2. As is the case with all of Kai’s videos, he’s pretty lighthearted about the whole thing, but there are some good points raised.

In terms of the JPEGs that these cameras spit out, the Oly came out on top with better detail at higher ISOs. The Oly also has those fun art filters, which Kai reminds us are good for the hipster crowd. The Panny, by contrast, is more on the serious side.

At the end of the day, the question of GF2 or E-PL2 is basically the same as the question of GF1 or E-PL1. Except, well, the GF2 has a touchscreen that, like so many other touchscreen cameras, works terribly. For the record, I have an E-PL1 and I love it. I just need to get me one of those Panasonic 20mm pancake lenses!

The post Panasonic GF2 vs. Olympus E-PL2: Which micro four-thirds is for you? appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Those of you who read my personal blog will know that I recently picked up the Olympus E-PL1. I need a replacement camera after my Canon got stolen and the E-PL1 offers SLR-like functionality with interchangeable lenses and a larger sensor, while being not that much bigger than a point-and-shoot. We’ve already seen the pseudo-update called the E-PL1s, but a true successor is reportedly making its debut next week at CES.

Of course, fans of the micro four-thirds format probably could have predicted that an Olympus E-PL2 was in the works. After all, Panasonic just recently announced the pending availability of its GF2 to follow up on the GF1. So, what is new with the upcoming Olympus E-PL2? Well, aesthetically, it looks pretty much the same as the E-PL1.

That is to say that it’s still taller but not as wide as the E-P1 and E-P2. From what I can see, it retains the pop-up flash and the slight bulge of a hand grip on the side. While the standard E-PL2 kit will reportedly still come with a 14-42mm F3.5/5.6 kit lens, this one is a slightly different breed than the kit lens that came with the current Olympus PEN series.

There’s still a direct movie button too, but the max ISO has been bumped to 6400, a new Dramatic Tone art filter has been added, and the LCD has been upgraded to a 3.0-inch 460k dot display. A “PENPAL” external Bluetooth module is being announced too, which attaches to the hotshoe and allows you to instantly send pictures via your Android or Windows smartphone to Flickr, Facebook, and other social networks. I’d imagine this is an optional accessory, much like the electronic viewfinder and mic adapter.

No word on price, but the Olympus E-PL2 is expected to make its official debut at CES before going on sale in February.

[43rumors]

The post Introducing the Olympus E-PL2 micro four-thirds digital camera appeared first on Mobile Magazine.