Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL1

The following is a complete overview of the Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL1, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are produced by Olympus. The resolution of the E-5 (12MP) and the E-PL1 (12MP) is fairly well matched and they use the same exact sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-5 was introduced 9 months after the E-PL1 which means that they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go through a detailed comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the E-5 scores against the E-PL1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-5 & Olympus PEN E-PL1. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-5 Gallery & Olympus E-PL1 Gallery.

If you are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you will need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-5 has got external dimensions of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL1 has specifications of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are using at the time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the E-5 compared to the E-PL1.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-5 and E-PL1 is 58 and 86 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's hard to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by looking at specs. The picture underneath may give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-5 and E-PL1.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the same exact megapixels therefore you can expect similar quality of photos but you really should consider the age of the products into consideration. The more recent E-5 should have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.