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Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL5

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60

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

Olympus E-M5 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 414g - 125 x 85 x 50mm
  • Released October 2019
  • Replaced the Olympus E-M5 II
  • Renewed by OM System OM-5
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 E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL5 Overview

Here is a comprehensive overview of the Olympus E-M5 III versus Olympus E-PL5, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are built by Olympus. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the E-M5 III (20MP) and E-PL5 (16MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-M5 III was introduced 7 years later than the E-PL5 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a complete comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the E-M5 III scores against the E-PL5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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

 E-M5 III E-PL5 
AnnouncedOctober 2019September 2012Fresher by 87 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k460kCrisper display (+580k dot)

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

 E-PL5 E-M5 III 

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

 E-M5 III E-PL5 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Both good for selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

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

In case you're looking to carry your camera frequently, you have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-M5 III enjoys outer measurements of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") accompanied by a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) while the Olympus E-PL5 has specifications of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M5 III versus Olympus E-PL5 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is a front view size comparison of the E-M5 III versus the E-PL5.

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

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

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

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

Typically, its tough to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing only by checking out specifications. The visual underneath will provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 III and E-PL5.

To sum up, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You can anticipate the Olympus E-M5 III to produce greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images a bit more aggressively. The more modern E-M5 III provides an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Portrait photography advice
Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography advice
77
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
delivers RAW files
71
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Street photography advice
Olympus E-PL5 Street photography advice
83
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
offers focus via touch
weather proof
good ISO range (25,600)
85
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
boasts touch focus
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Sports photography information
Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography information
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent shooting (1/32,000s)
fast shooting (30.0 frames per second)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
not so great battery life (310 CIPA)
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M5 III
Travel photography with Olympus E-PL5
77
weather proof
supports bluetooth
offers focus via touch
megapixel count decent (20MP)
selfie friendly display
not so great battery life (310 CIPA)
75
boasts touch focus
good megapixels (16MP)
screen is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse mode
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5 III
Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL5
77
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
not so great battery life (310 shots)
74
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M5 III
Vlogging with Olympus E-PL5
84
selfie friendly display
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection focus
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 resolution)
includes external microphone jack
78
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
missing external microphone jack
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Olympus E-PL5
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIOlympus PEN E-PL5
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Olympus PEN E-PL5
Category Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2019-10-17 2012-09-17
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII -
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Max resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 25600
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW format
Min enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 121 35
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,040k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed 1/32000 seconds -
Continuous shutter speed 30.0 frames per sec 8.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated 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)
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max 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 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 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 414 grams (0.91 lb) 325 grams (0.72 lb)
Physical dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 72
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 889
Other
Battery life 310 shots 360 shots
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 recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $1,199 $400