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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL1s

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL1s Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Released April 2012
  • Updated by Olympus E-M5 II
Olympus E-PL1s
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Announced November 2010
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL1
  • Updated by Olympus E-PL2
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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL1s Overview

Below is a in depth assessment of the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus E-PL1s, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are produced by Olympus. There exists a considerable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and E-PL1s (12MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-M5 was manufactured 18 months later than the E-PL1s which makes them a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the E-M5 matches up against the E-PL1s when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 E-M5 E-PL1s 
AnnouncedApril 2012November 2010More recent by 18 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution610k230kSharper screen (+380k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Olympus E-M5

 E-PL1s E-M5 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus E-PL1s

 E-M5 E-PL1s 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL1s Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M5 comes with outside measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL1s has proportions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus E-PL1s in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the E-M5 against the E-PL1s.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL1s size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 and E-PL1s is 81 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL1s top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL1s Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be tough to see the difference in sensor measurements just by researching a spec sheet. The visual here will give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 and E-PL1s.

Clearly, each of these cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Olympus E-M5 to render extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots way more aggressively. The younger E-M5 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL1s sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL1s Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL1s Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography information
Olympus E-PL1s Portrait photography information
71
manual focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography advice
Olympus E-PL1s Street photography advice
82
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
provides focus via touch
environment proof
above average ISO range (25,600)
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography information
Olympus E-PL1s Sports photography information
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
environment proof
lacks phase detect AF
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
bad battery pack (290 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography factors
Olympus E-PL1s Travel photography factors
66
environment proof
provides focus via touch
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
51
built-in flash
no Timelapse recording
bad battery pack (290 shots)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography features
Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography features
73
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
does not have Time Lapse function
55
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen is small (2.7")
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (290 shots)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Vlogging features
Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging features
34
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
does not have mic socket
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
does not offer selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone socket
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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL1s Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Olympus E-PL1s
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Olympus PEN E-PL1s
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Olympus PEN E-PL1s
Category Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2012-04-30 2010-11-16
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI Truepic V
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 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4032 x 3024
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 610 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 9.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
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 modes 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
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425 gr (0.94 pounds) 334 gr (0.74 pounds)
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 Overall rating 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 826 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 290 pictures
Battery type 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 slots One One
Launch pricing $799 $599