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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL8

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL8 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
  • Launched February 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-3
Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Revealed September 2016
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL7
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL9
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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL8 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Olympus E-5 and Olympus E-PL8, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are manufactured by Olympus. There is a sizeable difference among the image resolutions of the E-5 (12MP) and E-PL8 (16MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-5 was brought out 6 years before the E-PL8 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the E-5 matches up vs the E-PL8 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Olympus E-PL8

 E-5 E-PL8 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Olympus E-5

 E-PL8 E-5 
RevealedSeptember 2016February 2011More recent by 68 months
Display resolution1037k920kCrisper display (+117k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Olympus E-PL8

 E-5 E-PL8 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL8 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-5 has physical measurements of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) while the Olympus E-PL8 has proportions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") with a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-5 and Olympus E-PL8 in the all new Camera and 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 select during that time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the E-5 compared to the E-PL8.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL8 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-5 and E-PL8 is 58 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL8 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very tough to imagine the difference in sensor measurements purely by viewing specifications. The photograph underneath might give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-5 and E-PL8.

To sum up, the two cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You should expect to see the Olympus E-PL8 to render more detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images more aggressively. The older E-5 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 Portrait photography factors
Olympus E-PL8 Portrait photography factors
60
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
72
manual focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 Street photography highlights
Olympus E-PL8 Street photography highlights
71
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
84
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
has touch focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-PL8 as a Sports photography camera
59
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
weather sealing
has phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 Travel photography highlights
Olympus E-PL8 Travel photography highlights
56
weather sealing
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
does not have Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
71
has touch focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-PL8 as a Landscape photography camera
65
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
two card slots
low megapixels (12MP)
does not have Time Lapse recording
80
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-PL8 as a Vlogging camera
64
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
has mic socket
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
35
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
doesn't have microphone port
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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Olympus E-PL8
 Olympus E-5Olympus PEN E-PL8
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-5 Olympus PEN E-PL8
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2011-02-03 2016-09-19
Body design Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic V+ TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor 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
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Min boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
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 81
Cross focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 920 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech HyperCrystal transmissive LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per second 8.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 18.00 m (at ISO 200) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 gr (1.76 lbs) 357 gr (0.79 lbs)
Physical dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 shots 350 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots 2 One
Pricing at launch $1,700 $500