Olympus PEN Mini E-PM2 review

Small but mighty

Olympus PEN Mini E-PM2 review
The Olympus PEN Mini E-PM2 is the smallest Olympus PEN CSC

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We shoot a specially designed chart in carefully controlled conditions and the resulting images are analysed using DXO Analyzer software to generate the data to produce the graphs below.

A high signal to noise ratio (SNR) indicates a cleaner and better quality image.

For more more details on how to interpret our test data, check out our full explanation of our noise and dynamic range tests.

Here we compare the Olympus PEN Mini E-PM2 with the Sony NEX-F3, Olympus PEN Mini E-PM1, Nikon 1 J2 and Olympus PEN Lite E-PL5.

JPEG signal to noise ratio

Olympus PEN E-PM2 review

These results show that the Olympus PEN E-PM2's JPEG files have a relatively low signal to noise ratio compared to those from the Sony NEX-F3, Olympus E-PM1, Nikon 1 J2 and Olympus E-PL5, falling below the Sony and E-PM1 at lower sensitivities, but overtaking the E-PM1 at ISO 3200 and keeping up with the E-PL5 at the higher end of the settings.

Raw signal to noise ratio

Olympus PEN E-PM2 review

The signal to noise ratios of the TIFF images (after conversion from raw) from the Olympus PEN Mini E-PM2 are very similar to those from the Olympus PEN E-PL5, falling below the Sony NEX-F3 but beating the Nikon 1 J2 throughout the sensitivity range. The E-PM2 sits below the Olympus PEN E-PM1 at the lower ISOs, before taking the lead after ISO 1600.

JPEG dynamic range

Olympus PEN E-PM2 review

JPEG results for dynamic range again show the Olympus PEN Mini E-PM2 scoring very similar figures to the Olympus PEN Lite E-PL5. The two cameras sit above the Sony NEX-F3 and Olympus PEN Mini E-PM1 at every sensitivity setting, and above the Nikon 1 J2 at the lower ISOs, before the Nikon creeps up to its level at ISO 3200 and above.

Raw dynamic range

Olympus PEN E-PM2 review

As we see from this chart, TIFF images (after conversion from raw) from the Olympus PEN Mini E-PM2 once again produce similar dynamic range to the Olympus PEN Lite E-PL5, beating results from the Olympus PEN Mini E-PM1 and Nikon 1 J2 at every sensitivity setting. The E-PM2 beats the Sony NEX-F3 at lower sensitivities, but the Sony joins its level at ISO 1600 and above.

Amy Davies

Amy has been writing about cameras, photography and associated tech since 2009. Amy was once part of the photography testing team for Future Publishing working across TechRadar, Digital Camera, PhotoPlus, N Photo and Photography Week. For her photography, she has won awards and has been exhibited. She often partakes in unusual projects - including one intense year where she used a different camera every single day. Amy is currently the Features Editor at Amateur Photographer magazine, and in her increasingly little spare time works across a number of high-profile publications including Wired, Stuff, Digital Camera World, Expert Reviews, and just a little off-tangent, PetsRadar.