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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL5

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL5 Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Revealed July 2009
  • Updated by Olympus E-P2
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
  • Launched September 2012
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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL5 Overview

Lets examine more in depth at the Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras and both of them are designed by Olympus. There is a considerable difference among the image resolutions of the E-P1 (12MP) and E-PL5 (16MP) but they come with the same exact sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-P1 was brought out 4 years earlier than the E-PL5 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a simple overview of how the E-P1 scores versus the E-PL5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Olympus E-PL5

 E-P1 E-PL5 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Olympus E-P1

 E-PL5 E-P1 
LaunchedSeptember 2012July 2009More recent by 38 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Olympus E-PL5

 E-P1 E-PL5 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL5 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P1 has outer dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") having a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) and the Olympus E-PL5 has sizing of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have during that time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-P1 compared to the E-PL5.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-P1 and E-PL5 is 86 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL5 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to imagine the gap in sensor measurements simply by looking through technical specs. The photograph here might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P1 and E-PL5.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different MP. You can expect the Olympus E-PL5 to result in extra detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older E-P1 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography factors
Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography factors
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
71
focusing manually
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-PL5 as a Street photography camera
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen does not articulate
85
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
offers touch to focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-PL5 as a Sports photography camera
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (300 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Travel photography info
Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography info
43
doesn't have Timelapse function
not so great battery pack (300 shots)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
75
offers touch to focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
no Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-PL5 as a Landscape photography camera
60
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery pack (300 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse function
74
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P1
Vlogging with Olympus E-PL5
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone port
78
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
no microphone port
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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Olympus E-PL5
 Olympus PEN E-P1Olympus PEN E-PL5
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-P1 Olympus PEN E-PL5
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2009-07-29 2012-09-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 35
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 355 grams (0.78 lbs) 325 grams (0.72 lbs)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 72
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 12.3
DXO Low light rating 536 889
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 360 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $182 $400