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Nikon P90 vs Olympus E-PL5

Portability
70
Imaging
35
Features
37
Overall
35
Nikon Coolpix P90 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60

Nikon P90 vs Olympus E-PL5 Key Specs

Nikon P90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 26-624mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 400g - 114 x 99 x 83mm
  • Introduced February 2009
  • Superseded the Nikon P80
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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Nikon P90 vs Olympus E-PL5 Overview

Below is a detailed analysis of the Nikon P90 and Olympus E-PL5, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Nikon and Olympus. There is a significant difference among the sensor resolutions of the P90 (12MP) and E-PL5 (16MP) and the P90 (1/2.3") and E-PL5 (Four Thirds) posses different sensor measurements.

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The P90 was revealed 4 years prior to the E-PL5 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Nikon P90 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the P90 scores against the E-PL5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon P90 over the Olympus E-PL5

 P90 E-PL5 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Nikon P90

 E-PL5 P90 
IntroducedSeptember 2012February 2009More recent by 44 months
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Nikon P90 and Olympus E-PL5

 P90 E-PL5 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements

Nikon P90 vs Olympus E-PL5 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Nikon P90 enjoys exterior dimensions of 114mm x 99mm x 83mm (4.5" x 3.9" x 3.3") along with a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs) and the Olympus E-PL5 has measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon P90 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 dependant on the lens you use at that time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the P90 compared to the E-PL5.

Nikon P90 vs Olympus E-PL5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the P90 and E-PL5 is 70 and 88 respectively.

Nikon P90 vs Olympus E-PL5 top view buttons comparison

Nikon P90 vs Olympus E-PL5 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very tough to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements purely by researching technical specs. The graphic here will provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the P90 and E-PL5.

As you can tell, both of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The P90 with its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF harder and the Olympus E-PL5 will result in extra detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The older P90 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Nikon P90 vs Olympus E-PL5 sensor size comparison

Nikon P90 vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon P90 vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon P90 Portrait photography factors
Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography factors
29
focusing manually
can't use external flash
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
71
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon P90 as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-PL5 as a Street photography camera
55
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
85
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
above average high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon P90 Sports photography advice
Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography advice
37
long zoom range (26-624mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon P90 Travel photography factors
Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography factors
55
flash built-in
decently wide (26mm)
great reach (624mm)
low MP (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
75
comes with focus by touch
good MP (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
no Timelapse mode
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon P90
Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL5
43
focusing manually
decently wide (26mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
74
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon P90 Vlogging highlights
Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging highlights
24
decently wide (26mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have mic support
78
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
no external microphone socket
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Nikon P90 vs Olympus E-PL5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon P90 and Olympus E-PL5
 Nikon Coolpix P90Olympus PEN E-PL5
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon Coolpix P90 Olympus PEN E-PL5
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2009-02-03 2012-09-17
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 64 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 35
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 26-624mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.0 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.9 2.1
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1)
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 400g (0.88 lb) 325g (0.72 lb)
Physical dimensions 114 x 99 x 83mm (4.5" x 3.9" x 3.3") 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 72
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 889
Other
Battery life - 360 shots
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL5 BLS-5
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $700 $400