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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-P1

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-P1 Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
  • Announced February 2011
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-3
Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Introduced July 2009
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-P2
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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-P1 Overview

Here, we are looking at the Olympus E-5 and Olympus E-P1, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both offered by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-5 (12MP) and the E-P1 (12MP) is fairly close and both cameras provide the identical sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-5 was unveiled 19 months later than the E-P1 making them a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a full comparison, here is a brief summation of how the E-5 grades versus the E-P1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Olympus E-P1

 E-5 E-P1 
IntroducedFebruary 2011July 2009Fresher by 19 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Olympus E-5

 E-P1 E-5 

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Olympus E-P1

 E-5 E-P1 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-P1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera often, you have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-5 comes with exterior dimensions of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-P1 has proportions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-5 and Olympus E-P1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-5 against the E-P1.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-P1 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-5 and E-P1 is 58 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-P1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-P1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its hard to picture the gap in sensor sizing just by looking through specs. The graphic here will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-5 and E-P1.

All in all, both of the cameras come with the identical sensor size and the same exact MP so you should expect comparable quality of photographs although you will want to take the release date of the cameras into account. The fresher E-5 should have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-P1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-P1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-P1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-5
Portrait photography with Olympus E-P1
60
you can focus manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 Street photography information
Olympus E-P1 Street photography information
71
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-5
Sports photography with Olympus E-P1
59
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
environment proof
has phase detect autofocus
max fps very slow (5.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12MP)
40
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
slow fps (3.0 fps)
MP count low (12MP)
not so great battery (300 per charge)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-P1 as a Travel photography camera
56
environment proof
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
43
doesn't have Timelapse mode
not so great battery (300 per charge)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 Landscape photography details
Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography details
65
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
has double storage slots
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
60
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
not so great battery (300 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-5
Vlogging with Olympus E-P1
64
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
has mic port
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-P1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Olympus E-P1
 Olympus E-5Olympus PEN E-P1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-5 Olympus PEN E-P1
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2011-02-03 2009-07-29
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V+ TruePic V
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4032 x 3024
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 11
Cross focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 920 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech HyperCrystal transmissive LCD HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 18.00 m (at ISO 200) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800 gr (1.76 lb) 355 gr (0.78 lb)
Physical dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 55
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 21.4
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 10.4
DXO Low light score 519 536
Other
Battery life 870 pictures 300 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-5 BLS-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card
Card slots Dual Single
Price at launch $1,700 $182