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Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus E-PL5

Portability
82
Imaging
53
Features
73
Overall
61
Olympus OM-D E-M10 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60

Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus E-PL5 Key Specs

Olympus E-M10
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 396g - 119 x 82 x 46mm
  • Introduced March 2014
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-M10 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
  • Revealed September 2012
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Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus E-PL5 Overview

In this write-up, we will be comparing the Olympus E-M10 and Olympus E-PL5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras and both are built by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-M10 (16MP) and the E-PL5 (16MP) is relatively similar and they come with the same exact sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-M10 was launched 19 months later than the E-PL5 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M10 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the E-M10 scores vs the E-PL5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M10 over the Olympus E-PL5

 E-M10 E-PL5 
RevealedMarch 2014September 2012More recent by 19 months
Screen resolution1037k460kCrisper screen (+577k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Olympus E-M10

 E-PL5 E-M10 
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-M10 and Olympus E-PL5

 E-M10 E-PL5 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus E-PL5 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera frequently, you'll have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M10 has outside dimensions of 119mm x 82mm x 46mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 1.8") along with a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL5 has proportions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-M10 and Olympus E-PL5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at that time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the E-M10 vs the E-PL5.

Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus E-PL5 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M10 and E-PL5 is 82 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus E-PL5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus E-PL5 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very tough to picture the contrast between sensor measurements simply by reading technical specs. The photograph below might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M10 and E-PL5.

As you can tell, the two cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the same megapixels so you should expect similar quality of pictures though you need to take the release date of the products into consideration. The younger E-M10 should have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus E-PL5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M10 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-PL5 as a Portrait photography camera
71
has manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
71
manual focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M10
Street photography with Olympus E-PL5
77
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
supports touch focus
good high ISO (25,600)
more heavy than others in class (396g)
85
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
supports focus by touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M10 Sports photography factors
Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography factors
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
lacks phase detect autofocus
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M10 Travel photography details
Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography details
67
supports touch focus
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
more heavy than others in class (396g)
screen is not selfie friendly
75
supports focus by touch
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M10 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-PL5 as a Landscape photography camera
79
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
74
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M10 Vlogging features
Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging features
33
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone jack
more heavy than others in class (396 grams)
78
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lack of mic socket
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Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus E-PL5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M10 and Olympus E-PL5
 Olympus OM-D E-M10Olympus PEN E-PL5
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus OM-D E-M10 Olympus PEN E-PL5
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2014-03-18 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 dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 81 35
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.80 m (ISO100) 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1)
Flash options Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual(1/1(FULL)~1/64) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250s 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic 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 Optional None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 396 gr (0.87 pounds) 325 gr (0.72 pounds)
Dimensions 119 x 82 x 46mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 1.8") 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 72 72
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 12.3
DXO Low light score 884 889
Other
Battery life 320 images 360 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (12 sec., 2 sec.,custom (Waiting time 1-30sec.,Shooting interval 0.5/1/2/3sec.,Number of shots 1-10)) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Launch price $600 $400