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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL5

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL5 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
  • Launched April 2012
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M5 II
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
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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL5 Overview

The following is a extensive review of the Olympus E-M5 versus Olympus E-PL5, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both sold by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the E-PL5 (16MP) is fairly close and they come with the same exact sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-M5 was announced 4 months prior to the E-PL5 and they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the E-M5 grades vs the E-PL5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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

 E-M5 E-PL5 
Display resolution610k460kClearer display (+150k dot)

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

 E-PL5 E-M5 
Selfie screen Easy selfies

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

 E-M5 E-PL5 
AnnouncedApril 2012September 2012Same generation
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL5 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera often, you will have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 offers outside measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL5 has sizing of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M5 versus Olympus E-PL5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Here is the front view size comparison of the E-M5 compared to the E-PL5.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL5 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 and E-PL5 is 81 and 88 respectively.

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

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is tough to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions merely by viewing a spec sheet. The picture underneath will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 and E-PL5.

As you can see, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the identical MP and you should expect comparable quality of files but you will need to factor the release date of the cameras into account.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography advice
Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography advice
71
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
71
has manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-PL5 as a Street photography camera
82
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
comes with focus via touch
environment proof
very good high ISO (25,600)
85
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
supports touch to focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-PL5 as a Sports photography camera
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
environment proof
lacks phase detect AF
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography details
Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography details
66
environment proof
comes with focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
no Timelapse mode
does not have selfie friendly screen
75
supports touch to focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
lack of Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography details
Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography details
73
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
no Timelapse mode
74
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M5
Vlogging with Olympus E-PL5
34
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
no microphone port
78
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lack of external mic socket
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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Olympus E-PL5
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Olympus PEN E-PL5
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Olympus PEN E-PL5
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2012-04-30 2012-09-17
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI -
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 alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW data
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 35 35
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 610 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 9.0fps 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1)
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
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250s 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425 gr (0.94 lb) 325 gr (0.72 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 71 72
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 12.3
DXO Low light rating 826 889
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 360 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $799 $400