Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic S5

Following is a detailed overview of the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic S5, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the E-P1 (12MP) and S5 (24MP) and the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and S5 (Full frame) use different sensor sizing.

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The E-P1 was manufactured 12 years earlier than the S5 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight into a full comparison, below is a concise summation of how the E-P1 scores vs the S5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-P1 & Panasonic Lumix DC-S5. The entire galleries are available at Olympus E-P1 Gallery & Panasonic S5 Gallery.

When you are planning to carry around your camera, you're going to have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P1 has physical dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) whilst the Panasonic S5 has measurements of 133mm x 97mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2") with a weight of 714 grams (1.57 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic S5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are using during that time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-P1 against the S5.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-P1 and S5 is 86 and 60 respectively.

Often, it's hard to picture the difference in sensor sizes merely by seeing a spec sheet. The pic underneath may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P1 and S5.

Clearly, the 2 cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-P1 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Panasonic S5 will produce extra detail due to its extra 12MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more aged E-P1 will be behind in sensor innovation.