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Nikon Z5 vs Olympus E-PL2

Portability
62
Imaging
76
Features
86
Overall
80
Nikon Z5 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47

Nikon Z5 vs Olympus E-PL2 Key Specs

Nikon Z5
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Expand to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 675g - 134 x 101 x 70mm
  • Announced July 2020
Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Released February 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL3
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Nikon Z5 vs Olympus E-PL2 Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Nikon Z5 and Olympus E-PL2, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Nikon and Olympus. There exists a huge gap between the resolutions of the Z5 (24MP) and E-PL2 (12MP) and the Z5 (Full frame) and E-PL2 (Four Thirds) use different sensor dimensions.

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The Z5 was introduced 9 years later than the E-PL2 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Nikon Z5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go through a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick overview of how the Z5 matches up vs the E-PL2 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon Z5 over the Olympus E-PL2

 Z5 E-PL2 
ReleasedJuly 2020February 2011Fresher by 115 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1040k460kSharper display (+580k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Nikon Z5

 E-PL2 Z5 

Common features in the Nikon Z5 and Olympus E-PL2

 Z5 E-PL2 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Nikon Z5 vs Olympus E-PL2 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and measurements. The Nikon Z5 has exterior dimensions of 134mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.3" x 4.0" x 2.8") and a weight of 675 grams (1.49 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL2 has proportions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon Z5 and Olympus E-PL2 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the Z5 compared to the E-PL2.

Nikon Z5 vs Olympus E-PL2 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the Z5 and E-PL2 is 62 and 85 respectively.

Nikon Z5 vs Olympus E-PL2 top view buttons comparison

Nikon Z5 vs Olympus E-PL2 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to visualize the gap between sensor sizing just by checking a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the Z5 and E-PL2.

Clearly, both of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The Z5 using its larger sensor is going to make getting bokeh easier and the Nikon Z5 will give more detail using its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images much more aggressively. The fresher Z5 should have an advantage in sensor technology.

Nikon Z5 vs Olympus E-PL2 sensor size comparison

Nikon Z5 vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon Z5 vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon Z5 Portrait photography details
Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography details
85
manual focus
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports face detect focusing
exports RAW files
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Nikon Z5 Street photography features
Olympus E-PL2 Street photography features
74
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
large sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW files
provides touch to focus
weather proof
good ISO range (51,200)
more heavy than others in class (675g)
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Nikon Z5 Sports photography highlights
Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography highlights
82
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports tracking focus
weather proof
great battery power (470 per charge)
comes with phase detect AF
max fps low (4.5 frames/s)
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery power (280 per charge)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon Z5
Travel photography with Olympus E-PL2
68
great battery power (470 per charge)
weather proof
connects via bluetooth
provides touch to focus
megapixel count decent (24MP)
more heavy than others in class (675g)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
51
built-in flash
missing Timelapse mode
terrible battery power (280 per charge)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon Z5 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-PL2 as a Landscape photography camera
86
manual focus
swap lenses (Nikon Z mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
good ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW files
weather proof
great battery power (470 shots)
has dual storage slots
61
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (280 CIPA)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon Z5 Vlogging highlights
Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging highlights
34
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect focusing
great video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
does have microphone jack
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
more heavy than others in class (675 grams)
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone port
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Nikon Z5 vs Olympus E-PL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon Z5 and Olympus E-PL2
 Nikon Z5Olympus PEN E-PL2
General Information
Make Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon Z5 Olympus PEN E-PL2
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2020-07-20 2011-02-11
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed 6 Truepic V
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 35.9 x 23.9mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 858.0mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Full resolution 6016 x 4016 4032 x 3024
Max native ISO 51200 6400
Max boosted ISO 102400 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Lowest boosted ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 273 11
Lens
Lens support Nikon Z Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 15 107
Crop factor 1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3.2 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,040k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 3,690k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.8x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.5fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 10.00 m
Flash modes Front-curtain sync, slow sync, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction with slow sync, slow rear-curtain sync, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/200s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 675g (1.49 lbs) 362g (0.80 lbs)
Dimensions 134 x 101 x 70mm (5.3" x 4.0" x 2.8") 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 55
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 573
Other
Battery life 470 photographs 280 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL15c BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 secs) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible) SD/SDHC
Storage slots Two One
Pricing at launch $1,399 $0