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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-PL5

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-PL5 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Revealed October 2013
  • Later Model is Olympus E-M1 II
Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Introduced September 2012
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-PL5 Overview

Let's look much closer at the Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-PL5, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are built by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the E-PL5 (16MP) is relatively comparable and they use the same exact sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-M1 was brought out 14 months later than the E-PL5 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving in to a thorough comparison, below is a concise summation of how the E-M1 scores versus the E-PL5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Olympus E-PL5

 E-M1 E-PL5 
IntroducedOctober 2013September 2012Fresher by 14 months
Screen resolution1037k460kCrisper screen (+577k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Olympus E-M1

 E-PL5 E-M1 
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Olympus E-PL5

 E-M1 E-PL5 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-PL5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M1 enjoys external measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") with a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL5 has sizing of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-PL5 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the E-M1 vs the E-PL5.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-PL5 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 and E-PL5 is 71 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-PL5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-PL5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to envision the contrast in sensor sizing only by going through technical specs. The graphic here will give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 and E-PL5.

As you have seen, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the identical megapixels and you can expect comparable quality of images however you should take the age of the cameras into account. The younger E-M1 will have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-PL5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography info
Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography info
71
has manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/320s)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
71
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-PL5 as a Street photography camera
78
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
supports touch to focus
environment proofing
lighter than competition in class (497 grams)
good high ISO (25,600)
85
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
offers touch focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M1
Sports photography with Olympus E-PL5
70
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
environment proofing
supports phase detect autofocus
not so great battery power (350 shots)
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography factors
Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography factors
65
lighter than competition in class (497g)
environment proofing
supports touch to focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
not so great battery power (350 shots)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
75
offers touch focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Timelapse mode
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography factors
Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography factors
73
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
not so great battery power (350 shots)
74
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M1
Vlogging with Olympus E-PL5
36
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with microphone jack
lighter than competition in class (497 grams)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
78
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lack of microphone socket
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-PL5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Olympus E-PL5
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Olympus PEN E-PL5
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Olympus PEN E-PL5
Category Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2013-10-28 2012-09-17
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 81 35
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1)
Flash settings Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/320 secs 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 497 gr (1.10 pounds) 325 gr (0.72 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 72
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 12.3
DXO Low light rating 757 889
Other
Battery life 350 shots 360 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $799 $400