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Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus E-PL5

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
14
Overall
25
Olympus FE-45 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60

Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus E-PL5 Key Specs

Olympus FE-45
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-108mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 62 x 23mm
  • Introduced January 2009
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
  • Announced September 2012
Photography Glossary

Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus E-PL5 Overview

The following is a comprehensive analysis of the Olympus FE-45 and Olympus E-PL5, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are designed by Olympus. There is a sizeable difference among the image resolutions of the FE-45 (10MP) and E-PL5 (16MP) and the FE-45 (1/2.3") and E-PL5 (Four Thirds) possess different sensor size.

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The FE-45 was released 4 years prior to the E-PL5 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus FE-45 being a Compact camera and the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going in to a full comparison, below is a concise overview of how the FE-45 scores versus the E-PL5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus FE-45 over the Olympus E-PL5

 FE-45 E-PL5 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Olympus FE-45

 E-PL5 FE-45 
AnnouncedSeptember 2012January 2009Newer by 44 months
Manual focus More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus FE-45 and Olympus E-PL5

 FE-45 E-PL5 

Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus E-PL5 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera often, you will want to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus FE-45 comes with outside measurements of 94mm x 62mm x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs) while the Olympus E-PL5 has dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs).

Examine the Olympus FE-45 and Olympus E-PL5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you select during that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the FE-45 compared to the E-PL5.

Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus E-PL5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the FE-45 and E-PL5 is 95 and 88 respectively.

Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus E-PL5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus E-PL5 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions purely by researching a spec sheet. The image underneath will help give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the FE-45 and E-PL5.

Clearly, both of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The FE-45 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Olympus E-PL5 will render more detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images a little more aggressively. The more aged FE-45 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus E-PL5 sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus FE-45 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-PL5 as a Portrait photography camera
19
no manual focus
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
MP count low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
71
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus FE-45
Street photography with Olympus E-PL5
56
built in image stabilization (Digital)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
85
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
comes with focus by touch
great ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus FE-45 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-PL5 as a Sports photography camera
26
built in image stabilization (Digital)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus FE-45 Travel photography highlights
Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography highlights
51
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
MP count low (10 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
wide angle not the best (36mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
75
comes with focus by touch
good resolution (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus FE-45 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-PL5 as a Landscape photography camera
27
built in image stabilization (Digital)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (36mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.5 inch)
no manual exposure
MP count low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
74
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus FE-45 Vlogging highlights
Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging highlights
25
built in image stabilization (Digital)
wide angle not the best (36mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not posses selfie friendly display
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of external mic support
78
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lack of mic support
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Olympus FE-45 vs Olympus E-PL5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-45 and Olympus E-PL5
 Olympus FE-45Olympus PEN E-PL5
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus FE-45 Olympus PEN E-PL5
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2009-01-07 2012-09-17
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 4:3
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 25600
Minimum native ISO 64 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 35
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens focal range 36-108mm (3.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Total lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.9 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.5" 3"
Display resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate - 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1)
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 142 grams (0.31 lbs) 325 grams (0.72 lbs)
Dimensions 94 x 62 x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 72
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.3
DXO Low light score not tested 889
Other
Battery life - 360 photos
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - BLS-5
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type xD-Picture Card, microSD, internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $130 $400