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Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-PL5

Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
42
Overall
43
Olympus E-510 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60

Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-PL5 Key Specs

Olympus E-510
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 490g - 136 x 92 x 68mm
  • Released November 2007
  • Additionally referred to as EVOLT E-510
  • Superseded the Olympus E-500
  • Later Model is Olympus E-520
Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Released September 2012
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Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-PL5 Overview

On this page, we are analyzing the Olympus E-510 versus Olympus E-PL5, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are offered by Olympus. There exists a considerable gap between the image resolutions of the E-510 (10MP) and E-PL5 (16MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-510 was introduced 5 years prior to the E-PL5 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a in depth comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the E-510 matches up vs the E-PL5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-510 over the Olympus E-PL5

 E-510 E-PL5 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Olympus E-510

 E-PL5 E-510 
ReleasedSeptember 2012November 2007Fresher by 58 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-510 and Olympus E-PL5

 E-510 E-PL5 
Manual focus More exact focus

Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-PL5 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera frequently, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-510 offers outer measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) while the Olympus E-PL5 has dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-510 versus Olympus E-PL5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the E-510 vs the E-PL5.

Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-PL5 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-510 and E-PL5 is 69 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-PL5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-PL5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to picture the gap between sensor sizing purely by reading technical specs. The visual below will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-510 and E-PL5.

As you can tell, each of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You can anticipate the Olympus E-PL5 to offer you greater detail using its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images more aggressively. The older E-510 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-PL5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-510 Portrait photography information
Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography information
56
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
71
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-510 Street photography highlights
Olympus E-PL5 Street photography highlights
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lighter than average in class (490g)
screen does not articulate
85
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
boasts touch to focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-510 Sports photography information
Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography information
52
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-510 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-PL5 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than average in class (490 grams)
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
75
boasts touch to focus
MP count good (16MP)
display is selfie friendly
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-510 Landscape photography advice
Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography advice
55
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is small (2.5 inches)
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse mode
74
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-510 Vlogging details
Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging details
9
can't record video
78
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have mic socket
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Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-PL5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-510 and Olympus E-PL5
 Olympus E-510Olympus PEN E-PL5
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-510 Olympus PEN E-PL5
Otherwise known as EVOLT E-510 -
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2007-11-23 2012-09-17
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
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 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 25600
Min native ISO 100 200
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 detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 3 35
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1)
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 secs 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 490 gr (1.08 pounds) 325 gr (0.72 pounds)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 52 72
DXO Color Depth score 21.2 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score 10.0 12.3
DXO Low light score 442 889
Other
Battery life - 360 pictures
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model - BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $550 $400