Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic LX5

In this write-up, we are matching up the Olympus E-5 and Panasonic LX5, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-5 (12MP) and the LX5 (10MP) is very well matched but the E-5 (Four Thirds) and LX5 (1/1.63") feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-5 was unveiled 10 months earlier than the LX5 so 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 Panasonic LX5 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a in-depth comparison, below is a concise overview of how the E-5 matches up against the LX5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus E-5 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-5 Gallery & Panasonic LX5 Gallery.

For those who are intending to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-5 enjoys exterior dimensions of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) and the Panasonic LX5 has dimensions of 110mm x 65mm x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

See the Olympus E-5 and Panasonic LX5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using at that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the E-5 versus the LX5.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-5 and LX5 is 58 and 88 respectively.

Quite often, it is very difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizes purely by checking technical specs. The image here will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-5 and LX5.

As you can tell, each of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-5 with its larger sensor will make getting shallower DOF easier and the Olympus E-5 will resolve more detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos a little more aggressively. The more aged E-5 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.