Fujifilm X-A10 vs Olympus E-P5

Exploring the Fujifilm X-A10 and Olympus PEN E-P5: A Hands-On Comparison of Entry-Level Mirrorless Cameras

When sifting through the sea of entry-level mirrorless cameras, two models often meet head-to-head: Fujifilm’s X-A10 and Olympus’s PEN E-P5. Each carries its own legacy and philosophy - Fuji with its stylish, approachable design and color science, Olympus with its Micro Four Thirds versatility and venerable image stabilization tech. After extensive hands-on testing with both, I’m eager to share a detailed comparison rooted in technical analysis, real-world performance, and what these offerings truly bring to a photographer’s toolkit.

Let’s dive deep, section by section, highlighting their strengths, compromises, and suitability across photography disciplines.

Getting a Tangible Sense: Handling and Ergonomics

Physical design is the first point of contact with any camera, shaping confidence and usability. The Fujifilm X-A10 is a compact rangefinder-style mirrorless body, weighing a nimble 331 grams and measuring 117x67x40 mm. Olympus’s PEN E-P5 is a touch larger and heavier, sitting at 420 grams and 122x69x37 mm. That weight difference is noticeable but not burdensome - the PEN feels solid and reassuring in hand, while the X-A10’s smaller size makes it especially appealing for travel or street candids.

Ergonomically, the PEN E-P5 edges ahead thanks to a thoughtfully laid out control scheme that includes a tilting 3-inch touchscreen LCD. Fuji’s LCD also tilts but lacks touchscreen capabilities. Neither camera offers an integrated viewfinder - a caveat for those who prefer eye-level shooting - though the PEN does have an optional electronic viewfinder accessory. Still, I found both cameras quite comfortable to grip, with the PEN providing a more substantial handhold that suits longer shooting sessions.

For a quick visual of their physical differences, here’s a direct size and feel comparison:

The X-A10’s minimalist design keeps things accessible but also limits direct control, reflecting its entry-level ambition. The PEN’s vintage-inspired dials and extra customizable buttons cater to users craving a more tactile experience.

Eye Level: Design and Control Layout

Taking a closer look from above reveals the design philosophy baked into each camera. The Olympus PEN E-P5 sports a more traditional top plate with an exposure compensation dial and dedicated mode dial within easy thumb reach. The Fujifilm X-A10 opts for simplicity, with fewer dials, leaning on menus and touchscreen interaction (well, on the PEN since the X-A10 lacks touchscreen input) for in-depth settings.

In practice, the PEN’s controls enable snappier adjustments on the fly, which becomes valuable during dynamic shooting like events or street photography, where you seldom have the luxury of time to scroll through menus.

The directness of Olympus’s layout reflects its 2013 design heritage, whereas Fujifilm’s 2016 model trends more toward modern minimalism at the cost of some expediency. For beginners, less to fiddle with may be less intimidating, but those progressing rapidly will fawn over PEN’s physical controls.

Under the Hood: Sensor Technology and Image Quality

The heart of image quality lies in the sensor. Both cameras deploy a 16-megapixel sensor, but with notable differences. The Fujifilm X-A10 features an APS-C sized CMOS sensor measuring 23.6 x 15.6 mm with no optical low-pass filter (anti-aliasing filter), allowing for crisper detail. The Olympus PEN E-P5 uses a smaller Four Thirds sensor at 17.3 x 13 mm with an anti-aliasing filter, slightly dampening fine detail resolution to avoid moiré.

The sensor surface area discrepancy is significant: Fuji’s offers roughly 368 mm² versus Olympus’s 225 mm² - about 1.6x larger light-gathering area. This matters for noise performance and dynamic range, particularly in demanding lighting.

In actual shooting, Fuji’s APS-C sensor delivers richer color depth and lower noise at higher ISOs, assisting especially with landscapes and portraits. PEN’s sensor, though smaller, remains competent with a solid dynamic range and respectable intrinsics, thanks to its excellent color science and image processing pipeline.

Here’s a technical snapshot showing relative sensor sizes and resolutions:

Fuji’s lack of an anti-aliasing filter adds sharpness, but sometimes introduces moiré in complex patterns, noticeable in architecture or detailed textiles.

Seeing and Composing: LCD Screens and Viewfinder Options

Neither camera includes a built-in viewfinder - a notable omission - making the rear screen vital for composition. Both feature 3-inch displays with roughly 1,040,000-dot resolution (X-A10) and 1,037,000-dot (PEN E-P5). However, the Olympus PEN incorporates a capacitive touchscreen with 3:2 aspect ratio, providing touchscreen focusing and menu navigation. The Fujifilm screen tilts up for selfies but lacks touch responsiveness.

For portrait and street photographers who appreciate quick focus adjustments, the PEN’s touchscreen is a significant advantage. Without it, the X-A10’s reliance on button navigation can feel sluggish.

The optional Olympus electronic viewfinder (sold separately) can fill the gap for those wanting eye-level composition, though it adds bulk and cost. Fuji users must rely solely on the LCD, often a dealbreaker for those shooting outdoors in bright conditions.

Capturing the Moment: Autofocus Precision and Speed

Both cameras lack phase-detection autofocus (PDAF), relying on contrast detection AF systems. The Fujifilm X-A10 employs a 49-point contrast detection system with face detection but does not include advanced eye or animal eye tracking. Olympus uses a 35-point contrast detection system with eye detection and offers continuous AF with tracking.

During testing, the PEN’s autofocus showed marginally faster lock times and smoother continuous tracking, thanks in part to better processing and touch assist. The X-A10’s AF could hunt a bit more, especially in low light or on moving subjects.

For sports or wildlife where quick, reliable focus is essential, neither camera is perfectly suited - both will struggle with rapid subjects - but with care, PEN E-P5 handles bursts more effectively due to its faster continuous shooting at 9fps versus the X-A10’s 6fps.

Lens Choices: Ecosystem Opportunities and Limitations

An often underestimated factor, lens availability, heavily shapes camera usage. The X-A10 utilizes Fujifilm’s X-mount lenses, boasting a well-curated lineup of 54 lenses ranging from fast primes to versatile zooms, including celebrated Fuji primes prized by portrait and street shooters alike.

The Olympus PEN E-P5 belongs to the Micro Four Thirds system, arguably the most extensive mirrorless ecosystem with over 107 lenses available from Olympus, Panasonic, and third-party manufacturers. This variety spans ultra-wide to super-telephoto, making it a versatile system for macro, wildlife, and travel photography.

Keep in mind the respective crop factors: 1.5x for Fujifilm and 2.0x for Olympus. This affects field of view and lens selection strategies. For example, getting equivalent wide-angle coverage is easier on Fuji; longer telephoto reach comes more “built-in” on Olympus.

Both systems enjoy excellent compact prime lens options, but the Micro Four Thirds standard favors users seeking super lightweight setups.

Performance in the Field: Hands-On Photography Tests

Now, how do these specs translate into real-world results across various photography genres?

Portraits: Fuji’s APS-C sensor and color science reproduce skin tones naturally with smooth gradations. The lack of image stabilization means handheld shots rely on steady hands or stabilized lenses. Olympus’s 5-axis in-body image stabilization (IBIS) shines here, allowing slower shutter speeds without blur and enabling sharper portraits in ambient light. The PEN’s touchscreen AF with face and eye detection improves focus precision on subject eyes, whereas the X-A10 relies on less refined algorithms.

Landscape: Fuji’s stronger dynamic range and higher resolution marginally benefit landscapes, delivering detailed textures in skies and foliage. However, Olympus’s smaller sensor and anti-aliasing filter soften fine details slightly. Weather sealing is absent on both cameras, limiting rugged outdoor use. The X-A10 edges forward on resolution and dynamic range, a useful advantage when cropping or printing large.

Wildlife: Rapid bursts and telephoto lenses favor the Olympus PEN due to its faster 9fps shooting and Micro Four Thirds lens availability including extensive telephotos. Fuji’s slower 6fps and narrower lens range undercut its wildlife credentials.

Sports: Similar to wildlife, PEN’s faster continuous burst shooting, improved AF tracking, and stabilization better serve sports shooters, but neither system excels at fast action due to contrast-based AF.

Street: Fuji’s sleek compact size and excellent image quality make it great for candid street scenes. The PEN’s touchscreen is helpful, but its slightly larger size and weight may be a factor for discreet shooting.

Macro: Olympus’s IBIS combined with versatile Micro Four Thirds macro lenses enables easier handholding at close distances. Fuji users must rely more on tripod or stabilized lenses.

Night/Astro: Fuji’s superior high-ISO performance owing to its larger sensor improves low-light and astrophotography. Both cameras can do timelapse, but the X-A10 supports ISO down to 100 and up to 25,600 boosted, compared to PEN’s native ISO starting at 100 and top at 25,600 but with higher noise levels.

Video: Both max out at full HD 1080p, but frame rate options on Fuji are broader, offering 30p, 25p, 24p and HD at 60p, 50p. Olympus limits to 30p modes only. Neither offers mic input or headphone monitoring, reducing appeal for serious videographers.

Travel: Fuji’s compactness and battery life of roughly 410 shots outperform the PEN’s 330 shots. Lack of in-body stabilization on Fuji invites lens selection caution to avoid blur handheld, while Olympus’s IBIS helps maintain image sharpness despite the heavier body.

Professional Workflows: Both cameras support RAW format, though Olympus raw files come with slightly richer metadata useful for post-processing. Lack of built-in weather-sealing and modest build quality reduce professional reliability in demanding conditions.

This gallery shows sample images illustrating these points:

Fujifilm X A10 front Fujifilm X A10 screen back Olympus E P5 front Olympus E P5 screen back

The Nitty-Gritty: Detailed Performance Scores

While I rely mostly on hands-on impressions, DXOMark testing provides illuminating quantitative insights where available. Olympus PEN E-P5 has an overall DXOMark score of 72, with a color depth of 22.8 bits and dynamic range of 12.4 EV at base ISO - solid numbers for its category. Fujifilm X-A10 is untested by DXOMark but Fuji X-series APS-C sensors historically rank higher for both dynamic range and noise control vs Micro Four Thirds.

Here’s an overall performance comparison based on my testing and available benchmark data:

For genre-specific performance:

Assessing Build Quality and Durability

Neither the Fujifilm X-A10 nor Olympus PEN E-P5 offers weather sealing, dust or freezeproofing. The PEN’s magnesium alloy body lends a more robust feel compared to Fuji’s lighter polycarbonate shell. Both are suitable for casual outdoor use but need care in harsh environments or professional fieldwork.

Button illumination is absent on both, making nighttime handling slightly less convenient.

Battery Life and Storage Flexibility

Fuji’s X-A10 offers a slightly longer rated battery life (~410 shots) versus Olympus PEN E-P5 (~330 shots). Both use proprietary battery packs - NP-W126S for Fuji and Olympus’s own, which isn’t specified but shares similar capacity ranges.

Single SD card slots are standard, supporting SD/SDHC/SDXC. USB 2.0 is the common connectivity protocol for file transfer - nothing super fast, but reliable.

Wireless and Connectivity Features

Both cameras feature built-in Wi-Fi for image transfer and remote control via smartphone apps but lack Bluetooth or NFC, limiting convenience by modern standards. Both offer full-size HDMI ports for video output, supporting external monitors.

Price-to-Performance: Which One Represents Better Value?

At launch, the Fujifilm X-A10 carried a higher MSRP ~$499 versus Olympus PEN E-P5’s $389. Considering features, build, and performance, both remain competitive near the used or discounted market. Fuji’s APS-C sensor guarantees better image foundation, while Olympus delivers superior ergonomics, stabilization, and faster burst shooting.

Value depends on user priorities: Fuji appeals more to photographers prioritizing image quality, portrait skin tones, and compactness. Olympus suits those emphasizing stabilization, lens flexibility, and dynamic shooting features.

Summing It Up: Which Camera Suits Your Style?

After testing these two cameras extensively, here are my distilled takeaways tailored to different users:

• Beginner Enthusiasts Seeking Simplicity and Image Quality: Fujifilm X-A10 offers a gentle learning curve, vibrant color rendition, and sharp APS-C sensor detail. Ideal for portrait, landscape, and travel photography where image quality and portability matter.

• Users Wanting Greater Control and Performance for Action and Versatility: Olympus PEN E-P5 shines with its tactile controls, 5-axis IBIS, and broader lens lineup - a better fit for sports, macro, travel, and situations demanding stabilization and faster shooting.

• Budget-Conscious Buyers: The PEN E-P5 often surfaces at lower price points due to earlier release date and used availability, delivering solid value for hands-on users ready to embrace Micro Four Thirds limitations.

• Video Hobbyists: Neither camera is a standout but Fuji’s wider frame rates offer marginally more flexibility for casual videography.

• Travel Photographers: Fuji’s lighter build and excellent battery life edge out Olympus when weight and portability trump IBIS.

To close, if APS-C image quality and rich color are a priority, the Fujifilm X-A10 remains a worthy choice despite its dated autofocus and lack of stabilization. For photographers craving a more responsive control scheme paired with effective in-body stabilization and lens options, Olympus PEN E-P5 is a compelling all-rounder with a few compromises.

Here’s a visual quick-reference chart summarizing our discussion:

Fujifilm X A10 front Fujifilm X A10 screen back Olympus E P5 front Olympus E P5 screen back

Ultimately, choosing between the Fujifilm X-A10 and Olympus PEN E-P5 boils down to what you prioritize most: raw image fidelity and compactness or enhanced handling and stabilization. Both cameras demonstrate the strengths and inherent compromises of entry-level mirrorless design circa their release periods. Evaluating them with your specific photographic ambitions in mind ensures you invest wisely in gear that serves your creativity for years to come.