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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL6

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL6 front
Portability
88
Imaging
53
Features
77
Overall
62

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL6 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
  • Revealed February 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-3
Olympus E-PL6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Revealed August 2014
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PL7
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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL6 Overview

Here is a extended analysis of the Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL6, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are sold by Olympus. There exists a considerable gap between the resolutions of the E-5 (12MP) and E-PL6 (16MP) but they come with the exact same sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-5 was released 4 years before the E-PL6 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving in to a in depth comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the E-5 grades against the E-PL6 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Olympus E-PL6

 E-5 E-PL6 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution920k460kClearer screen (+460k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL6 over the Olympus E-5

 E-PL6 E-5 
RevealedAugust 2014February 2011Fresher by 42 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Olympus E-PL6

 E-5 E-PL6 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Both good for selfies

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL6 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-5 features exterior measurements 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-PL6 has proportions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL6 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-5 and the E-PL6.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL6 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-5 and E-PL6 is 58 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL6 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL6 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be tough to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing only by checking technical specs. The photograph underneath might offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-5 and E-PL6.

As you have seen, both of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Olympus E-PL6 to give you more detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The older E-5 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL6 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL6 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL6 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 Portrait photography details
Olympus E-PL6 Portrait photography details
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
71
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 Street photography information
Olympus E-PL6 Street photography information
71
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
85
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
provides touch focus
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-5
Sports photography with Olympus E-PL6
59
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
max frames per second very slow (5.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 Travel photography information
Olympus E-PL6 Travel photography information
56
weather sealing
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
lack of Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
85
provides touch focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 Landscape photography info
Olympus E-PL6 Landscape photography info
65
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
has double storage slots
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse recording
80
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-PL6 as a Vlogging camera
64
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
includes external mic port
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
79
selfie friendly display
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lack of mic jack
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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL6 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Olympus E-PL6
 Olympus E-5Olympus PEN E-PL6
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-5 Olympus PEN E-PL6
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-02-03 2014-08-01
Body design Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic V+ TruePic VI
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 35
Cross focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology HyperCrystal transmissive LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0fps 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800 grams (1.76 pounds) 325 grams (0.72 pounds)
Dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 519 not tested
Other
Battery life 870 photos 360 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-5 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Two Single
Pricing at release $1,700 $300