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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL1

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL1 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Successor is Olympus E-M5 II
Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Released May 2010
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PL1s
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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL1 Overview

Here, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-M5 versus Olympus E-PL1, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both designed by Olympus. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and E-PL1 (12MP) but both cameras have the identical sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-M5 was introduced 24 months after the E-PL1 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a in depth comparison, here is a brief summary of how the E-M5 grades vs the E-PL1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Olympus E-PL1

 E-M5 E-PL1 
ReleasedApril 2012May 2010Newer by 24 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution610k230kSharper screen (+380k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Olympus E-M5

 E-PL1 E-M5 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus E-PL1

 E-M5 E-PL1 
Manual focus More exact focus
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-M5 features outer measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Olympus E-PL1 has specifications of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M5 versus Olympus E-PL1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have at the time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the E-M5 versus the E-PL1.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL1 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 and E-PL1 is 81 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by viewing specifications. The image here might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 and E-PL1.

Plainly, both the cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Olympus E-M5 to result in more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs way more aggressively. The more recent E-M5 provides an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M5
Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL1
71
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography info
Olympus E-PL1 Street photography info
82
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
features touch to focus
weather proof
very good high ISO (25,600)
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-PL1 as a Sports photography camera
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
weather proof
does not have phase detect autofocus
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
max frames per second low (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (290 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-PL1 as a Travel photography camera
66
weather proof
features touch to focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
missing Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
51
built-in flash
no Time Lapse recording
not so great battery power (290 per charge)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-PL1 as a Landscape photography camera
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
weather proof
missing Timelapse recording
55
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
MP count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (290 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-PL1 as a Vlogging camera
34
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone port
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic jack
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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Olympus E-PL1
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Olympus PEN E-PL1
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Olympus PEN E-PL1
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-04-30 2010-05-17
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI Truepic V
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4032 x 3024
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 610 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 9.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 10.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
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 425 grams (0.94 lb) 334 grams (0.74 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 71 54
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 21.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 10.1
DXO Low light rating 826 487
Other
Battery life 360 images 290 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 BLS-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $799 $288