Olympus PEN E-PL2

The Olympus PEN E-PL2 is a mirrorless camera from 2011 built around the Micro Four Thirds system. At 114 x 72 x 42 mm and 362 g, it fits a small bag and stays easy to carry for a day out.

You compose everything on the 3-inch LCD because there is no viewfinder. That suits photographers who like holding the camera out to frame shots, though anyone who prefers an eye-level view will miss one.

This is a stills-only camera with no movie mode. With a built-in flash plus support for external flash, it fits casual everyday photography rather than hybrid shooting.

The E-PL2 earns a modest Optics score of 43, placing it in the bottom 12% of cameras in our database for Optics. Its 12.3 megapixel Live MOS sensor uses the Micro Four Thirds format, a combination that resolves enough detail for everyday prints and web sharing.

In-body stabilisation is the standout here. It counters camera shake, so you can hand-hold slower shutter speeds indoors or in shade with less risk of blur from your own movement. It does nothing for a moving subject, which is a separate problem.

The limits show once the pace picks up. A maximum burst of three frames per second is restrictive for action work, and the 1/4000s maximum shutter speed leaves less room for wide apertures in strong light. Eleven autofocus points are available, though a point count alone says little about tracking.

Sensitivity spans ISO 200 to 6400, and the TruePic V processor handles the imaging pipeline. Framing relies on the screen alone, with no viewfinder as an alternative.

The E-PL2 does not record video. It is a stills-only design, so anyone who wants the occasional clip alongside photographs will need a separate device.

Built-in timelapse is also absent, so the camera cannot automate interval shooting on its own.

The Features score of 36 reflects a limited set, and much of the story is the screen. The 3-inch LCD carries 460,000 dots, enough for framing and reading menus but coarse when you want to confirm fine focus.

There is no touchscreen, so settings change through buttons and menus. The screen does not move either, which makes overhead or waist-level framing a matter of guesswork.

Lighting is better covered. The built-in flash handles quick indoor shots, and the camera accepts external flash units when you want more power or directional control.

There is no weather sealing, so keep the camera dry in rain. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS are all absent, which rules out built-in wireless transfer and on-body location tagging.

The Storage & Battery score of 16 is the weakest on this page, and the missing basics explain it. A single slot takes SD and SDHC cards, so there is no second card for overflow or backup during a shoot. The modest battery rating and lack of USB charging cost further points.

The BLS-5 battery is rated at 280 shots per charge, though the rating does not state its test conditions. Treat that as an indicator rather than a promise, and pack a charged spare for heavy shooting days.

The camera lacks USB charging, so you cannot top the battery up from a laptop or power bank between shoots. Build charging time into your routine.