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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus XZ-1

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Olympus XZ-1 front
Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
51
Overall
41

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus XZ-1 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
  • Older Model is Olympus E-3
Olympus XZ-1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 275g - 111 x 65 x 42mm
  • Launched January 2011
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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus XZ-1 Overview

Here is a extended comparison of the Olympus E-5 versus Olympus XZ-1, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are manufactured by Olympus. The resolution of the E-5 (12MP) and the XZ-1 (10MP) is pretty comparable but the E-5 (Four Thirds) and XZ-1 (1/1.63") provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-5 was announced at a similar time to the XZ-1 and they are both of a similar age. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus XZ-1 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the E-5 grades against the XZ-1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Olympus XZ-1

 E-5 XZ-1 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution920k614kClearer screen (+306k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-1 over the Olympus E-5

 XZ-1 E-5 

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Olympus XZ-1

 E-5 XZ-1 
LaunchedFebruary 2011January 2011Same age
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus XZ-1 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-5 provides physical 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) while the Olympus XZ-1 has specifications of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") with a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-5 versus Olympus XZ-1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at that time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the E-5 and the XZ-1.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus XZ-1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-5 and XZ-1 is 58 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus XZ-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus XZ-1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizing just by going through specifications. The visual here may give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-5 and XZ-1.

To sum up, the 2 cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-5 using its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Olympus E-5 will produce greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures way more aggressively.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus XZ-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus XZ-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus XZ-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus XZ-1 Portrait photography highlights
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
45
has manual focus
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
megapixel count low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.63")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 Street photography information
Olympus XZ-1 Street photography information
71
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
59
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/1.63")
heavier than competitors in class (275 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus XZ-1 as a Sports photography camera
59
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12MP)
38
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking autofocus
good battery life (320 CIPA)
max fps very slow (2.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.63")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus XZ-1 as a Travel photography camera
56
environment sealing
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
missing Time Lapse function
MP count low (12 megapixels)
62
good battery life (320 per charge)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competitors in class (275 grams)
megapixel count low (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 Landscape photography features
Olympus XZ-1 Landscape photography features
65
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
has dual storage slots
MP count low (12 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse function
54
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (320 shots)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.63")
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus XZ-1 as a Vlogging camera
64
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
includes external mic jack
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
31
decently wide (28mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focus
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic socket
heavier than competitors in class (275 grams)
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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus XZ-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Olympus XZ-1
 Olympus E-5Olympus XZ-1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-5 Olympus XZ-1
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-02-03 2011-01-26
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V+ TruePic V
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.63"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 8.07 x 5.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 44.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 3664 x 2752
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 11
Cross type focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 4.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 920 thousand dots 614 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology HyperCrystal transmissive LCD OLED
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 8.60 m (ISO 800)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 800 gr (1.76 lbs) 275 gr (0.61 lbs)
Physical dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 111 x 65 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 34
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 18.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 10.4
DXO Low light rating 519 117
Other
Battery life 870 pictures 320 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLM-5 Li-50B
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
Card slots 2 One
Retail pricing $1,700 $567