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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL2

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL2 Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • 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
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-3
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
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Updated by Olympus E-PL3
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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL2 Overview

Here is a thorough analysis of the Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL2, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are built by Olympus. The resolution of the E-5 (12MP) and the E-PL2 (12MP) is fairly well matched and both cameras offer the same sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-5 was launched very close to the E-PL2 so they are both of a similar age. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a complete comparison, here is a concise summary of how the E-5 scores against the E-PL2 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Olympus E-PL2

 E-5 E-PL2 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution920k460kSharper display (+460k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Olympus E-5

 E-PL2 E-5 

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Olympus E-PL2

 E-5 E-PL2 
ReleasedFebruary 2011February 2011Similar age
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL2 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera often, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-5 offers exterior measurements of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL2 has specifications of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL2 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-5 and the E-PL2.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL2 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-5 and E-PL2 is 58 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL2 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be tough to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing purely by checking specs. The graphic here will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-5 and E-PL2.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions and the same resolution so you can expect similar quality of photos though you should consider the age of the products into consideration.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography highlights
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
resolution not great (12MP)
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 Street photography features
Olympus E-PL2 Street photography features
71
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-5
Sports photography with Olympus E-PL2
59
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment proofing
has phase detect AF
low fps (5.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
low battery (280 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 Travel photography details
Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography details
56
environment proofing
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse function
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
51
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low battery (280 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-PL2 as a Landscape photography camera
65
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
has double storage slots
resolution not great (12MP)
lack of Time Lapse function
61
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
low battery (280 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-PL2 as a Vlogging camera
64
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
has external mic port
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic socket
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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Olympus E-PL2
 Olympus E-5Olympus PEN E-PL2
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-5 Olympus PEN E-PL2
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2011-02-03 2011-02-11
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic V+ Truepic V
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4032 x 3024
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 11
Cross focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 920 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology HyperCrystal transmissive LCD HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 10.00 m
Flash options 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 1/250s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800g (1.76 lb) 362g (0.80 lb)
Physical dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 55
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 21.4
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 10.2
DXO Low light score 519 573
Other
Battery life 870 photos 280 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-5 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Card slots Two Single
Price at launch $1,700 $0