Canon T2i vs Olympus E-M10

Cameras
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Canon T2i vs Olympus E-M10

APS-C 332.3mm²
18.0 megapixels
ISO 100 - 6400

Go in depth with our full Canon T2i Review.
See real-world photos taken with the T2i.

4/3 224.9mm²
16.1 megapixels
ISO 200 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Olympus E-M10 Review.
How does it shoot? Olympus E-M10 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the E-M10.
Compare Olympus E-M10 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Olympus E-M10 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Canon T3i
Compare T2i vs T3i

Succeeded by the Olympus E-M10 II
Compare E-M10 vs E-M10 II

Compare CANON T3I vs OLYMPUS E-M10 II

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Differences

Canon T2i advantages over Olympus E-M10

Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Fast startup
~0.40 vs 1.3 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

440 vs 320 shots
Capture more photos
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos

Olympus E-M10 advantages over Canon T2i

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
E-M10 test data on DxO Mark T2i test data on DxO Mark

884 vs 784 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Thinner
45 mm vs 76 mm
Thinner
Lighter weight
515g vs 736g
Lighter weight
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
8.1 fps vs 3.6 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
19 vs 10 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
8.1 fps vs 3.6 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
15 vs 6 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 12800 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Adorama
Read T2i User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read E-M10 User Reviews

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Body Only
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Review Excerpt

Read our Canon T2i Full Review

Great image quality especially from RAW files; Excellent dynamic range for a Four Thirds sensor; Very good high ISO performance; Realistic colors and excellent hue accuracy; Built-in Wi-Fi with remote control and sharing features; Improved HD video; Lightweight and very portable; Built-in pop-up flash; Minimal EVF lag time.
Contrast-Detect AF struggles with small and low-contrast subjects; Mediocre battery life; No external microphone or headphone jack; Mediocre burst speed with continuous AF; No weather sealing; Heavy-handed high ISO noise reduction.
Read our Olympus E-M10 Review

The Competition

Compared to Pentax K-7

Canon T2i

Pentax K-7

$692
APS-C

Less expensive
Fast startup

$1300
APS-C

Larger sensor
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon T2i vs Pentax K-7

Olympus E-M10

Pentax K-7

$399
4/3

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$1300
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Olympus E-M10 vs Pentax K-7

Compared to Sony A55

Canon T2i

Sony A55

$692
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

$734
APS-C

Larger sensor
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon T2i vs Sony A55

Olympus E-M10

Sony A55

$399
4/3

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$734
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Olympus E-M10 vs Sony A55

Compared to Nikon D5100

Canon T2i

Nikon D5100

$692
APS-C

Shoots 60p video

$650
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

Compare Canon T2i vs Nikon D5100

Olympus E-M10

Nikon D5100

$399
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$650
APS-C

Larger sensor
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Olympus E-M10 vs Nikon D5100

Compared to Panasonic GX7

Canon T2i

Panasonic GX7

$692
APS-C

Larger sensor
Less expensive

$648
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon T2i vs Panasonic GX7

Olympus E-M10

Panasonic GX7

$399
4/3

Less expensive
Higher effective ISO

$648
4/3

In-camera panoramas
Fast startup

Compare Olympus E-M10 vs Panasonic GX7

Compared to Olympus E-M10 II

Canon T2i

Olympus E-M10 II

$692
APS-C

Larger sensor
Fast startup

$349
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon T2i vs Olympus E-M10 II

Olympus E-M10

Olympus E-M10 II

$399
4/3

$349
4/3

Fast startup
Shoots 24p video

Compare Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus E-M10 II

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