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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic S5

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
77
Features
92
Overall
83

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic S5 Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Introduced July 2009
  • Renewed by Olympus E-P2
Panasonic S5
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.0" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Push to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 714g - 133 x 97 x 82mm
  • Introduced August 2020
  • Later Model is Panasonic S5 II
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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic S5 Overview

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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Panasonic S5

 E-P1 S5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic S5 over the Olympus E-P1

 S5 E-P1 
IntroducedAugust 2020July 2009More modern by 134 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1840k230kSharper screen (+1610k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic S5

 E-P1 S5 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Screen dimension3"3.0"Identical screen measurement

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic S5 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic S5 size comparison

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

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic S5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic S5 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic S5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic S5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic S5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic S5 as a Portrait photography camera
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
86
has manual focus
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
features face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic S5 as a Street photography camera
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
fixed screen
78
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW files
includes focus by touch
weather proof
great ISO range (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Sports photography features
Panasonic S5 Sports photography features
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (300 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
82
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
quiet shooting (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
features tracking focus
weather proof
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Travel photography advice
Panasonic S5 Travel photography advice
43
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (300 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
79
weather proof
connects via bluetooth
includes focus by touch
megapixel count good (24MP)
screen is selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic S5 as a Landscape photography camera
60
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
bad battery pack (300 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
86
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Leica L mount)
pretty good screen size (3.0 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
great ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW files
weather proof
2 card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Vlogging information
Panasonic S5 Vlogging information
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic port
79
screen is selfie friendly
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has mic support
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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic S5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic S5
 Olympus PEN E-P1Panasonic Lumix DC-S5
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-P1 Panasonic Lumix DC-S5
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Introduced 2009-07-29 2020-08-14
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 51200
Max boosted ISO - 204800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Minimum boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 225
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Leica L
Total lenses 107 31
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inches 3.0 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 1,840k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync w/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 secs 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 200 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264, H.265
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes (can be charged with high-power laptop/tablet chargers or portable power banks)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 355 grams (0.78 pounds) 714 grams (1.57 pounds)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 133 x 97 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photographs 440 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, SDXC Memory Card
Card slots Single 2
Retail pricing $182 $1,999