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Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL5

Portability
80
Imaging
54
Features
84
Overall
66
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL5 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 469g - 124 x 85 x 45mm
  • Announced February 2015
  • Older Model is Olympus E-M5
  • New Model is Olympus E-M5 III
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-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL5 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus E-M5 II versus Olympus E-PL5, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both built by Olympus. The resolution of the E-M5 II (16MP) and the E-PL5 (16MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras provide the same sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-M5 II was released 2 years after the E-PL5 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting right into a thorough comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the E-M5 II grades versus the E-PL5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 II over the Olympus E-PL5

 E-M5 II E-PL5 
IntroducedFebruary 2015September 2012More modern by 30 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1037k460kCrisper screen (+577k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Olympus E-M5 II

 E-PL5 E-M5 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 II and Olympus E-PL5

 E-M5 II E-PL5 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL5 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera frequently, you need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M5 II comes with physical measurements of 124mm x 85mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") having a weight of 469 grams (1.03 lbs) while the Olympus E-PL5 has proportions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M5 II versus 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 based on the lens you are employing at that moment. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the E-M5 II versus the E-PL5.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL5 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 II and E-PL5 is 80 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL5 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizes simply by looking at specifications. The picture here should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 II and E-PL5.

To sum up, both of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions and the same exact resolution and you should expect similar quality of pictures though you might want to take the release date of the products into consideration. The fresher E-M5 II provides an edge in sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Portrait photography highlights
Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography highlights
72
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
supports RAW files
71
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Street photography highlights
Olympus E-PL5 Street photography highlights
82
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
features focus by touch
weather proof
good ISO range (25,600)
85
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
provides focus by touch
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-PL5 as a Sports photography camera
65
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proof
not so great battery pack (310 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-PL5 as a Travel photography camera
74
weather proof
features focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
selfie friendly display
not so great battery pack (310 shots)
75
provides focus by touch
megapixel count good (16MP)
selfie friendly display
missing Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Landscape photography details
Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography details
74
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
weather proof
not so great battery pack (310 shots)
74
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-PL5 as a Vlogging camera
82
selfie friendly display
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external mic jack
78
selfie friendly display
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
missing external microphone jack
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PL5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 II and Olympus E-PL5
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIOlympus PEN E-PL5
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Olympus PEN E-PL5
Category Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2015-02-06 2012-09-17
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type MOS 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
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW support
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 81 35
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,037k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1)
Flash modes Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 469 gr (1.03 lb) 325 gr (0.72 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 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 12.4 12.3
DXO Low light rating 896 889
Other
Battery life 310 pictures 360 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $699 $400