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Canon M vs Olympus E-PL5

Portability
89
Imaging
60
Features
65
Overall
62
Canon EOS M front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60

Canon M vs Olympus E-PL5 Key Specs

Canon M
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF-M Mount
  • 298g - 109 x 66 x 32mm
  • Announced July 2012
Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Introduced September 2012
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Canon M vs Olympus E-PL5 Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Canon M and Olympus E-PL5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Canon and Olympus. The resolution of the M (18MP) and the E-PL5 (16MP) is pretty well matched but the M (APS-C) and E-PL5 (Four Thirds) feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The M was revealed within a month of the E-PL5 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief summation of how the M matches up versus the E-PL5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon M over the Olympus E-PL5

 M E-PL5 
Screen resolution1040k460kSharper screen (+580k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Canon M

 E-PL5 M 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Canon M and Olympus E-PL5

 M E-PL5 
IntroducedJuly 2012September 2012Similar generation
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Canon M vs Olympus E-PL5 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to consider its weight and volume. The Canon M offers outer dimensions of 109mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL5 has sizing of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon M and Olympus E-PL5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the M against the E-PL5.

Canon M vs Olympus E-PL5 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the M and E-PL5 is 89 and 88 respectively.

Canon M vs Olympus E-PL5 top view buttons comparison

Canon M vs Olympus E-PL5 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions just by checking specifications. The image here may offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the M and E-PL5.

Plainly, both the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The M using its bigger sensor will make achieving bokeh simpler and the Canon M will give more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures a little more aggressively.

Canon M vs Olympus E-PL5 sensor size comparison

Canon M vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon M vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon M
Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL5
76
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
exports RAW files
71
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Canon M as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-PL5 as a Street photography camera
72
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
includes touch focus
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
85
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon M
Sports photography with Olympus E-PL5
55
megapixel count decent (18MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
slow fps (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
not so great battery power (230 shots)
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon M Travel photography info
Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography info
63
includes touch focus
megapixel count decent (18MP)
missing Timelapse recording
not so great battery power (230 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
75
boasts touch to focus
MP count good (16MP)
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Landscape Comparison

Canon M Landscape photography advice
Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography advice
66
you can focus manually
change lenses (Canon EF-M mount)
screen size is good (3")
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no image stabilization
not so great battery power (230 CIPA)
missing Timelapse recording
74
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon M Vlogging information
Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging information
37
touchscreen functionality
supports face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has microphone support
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
78
selfie friendly display
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone port
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Canon M vs Olympus E-PL5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon M and Olympus E-PL5
 Canon EOS MOlympus PEN E-PL5
General Information
Brand Canon Olympus
Model type Canon EOS M Olympus PEN E-PL5
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2012-07-23 2012-09-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 5 -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 22.3 x 14.9mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 332.3mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3
Peak resolution 5184 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 12800 25600
Highest enhanced ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 31 35
Lens
Lens support Canon EF-M Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 23 107
Crop factor 1.6 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,040k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech Clear View II TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0fps 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/200 secs 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (60, 50 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 298 grams (0.66 lb) 325 grams (0.72 lb)
Dimensions 109 x 66 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 65 72
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.2 12.3
DXO Low light rating 827 889
Other
Battery life 230 pictures 360 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LP-E12 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $510 $400