Olympus PEN E-P2 vs Olympus PEN E-P5: A Deep Dive into Two Iconic Entry-Level Mirrorless Cameras

When I first got hands-on with the Olympus PEN series over a decade ago, I was immediately drawn to its elegant rangefinder-style design and the promise of Micro Four Thirds versatility squeezed into a compact frame. Today I want to take you on an informed journey comparing two important models in this lineage: the Olympus PEN E-P2 (2010) and its 2013 successor, the Olympus PEN E-P5. Both positioned as entry-level mirrorless cameras, these models illustrate how Olympus evolved its approach to image quality, handling, and features in just a few years. Having thoroughly tested thousands of cameras in studios and real-world scenarios, I’ll walk you through every critical aspect - sensor tech, autofocus, ergonomics, real-life shooting, video, and more - to help you decide which PEN fits your photographic aspirations and budget.

Let’s start by understanding how they stack up physically and ergonomically, as that often sets the first impression of a camera’s personality.

Compact Contenders: Sizing Up the Olympus PEN E-P2 and E-P5

Despite their shared pen-like design language, the E-P2 and E-P5 present some subtle but important differences in body size and weight. The E-P2 measures 121 x 70 x 36mm and weighs a mere 355 grams, making it genuinely pocketable for an interchangeable lens camera. The E-P5 is slightly larger at 122 x 69 x 37mm and weighs 420 grams. While heavier, it remains comfortably compact compared to DSLRs of similar sensor size.

My personal preference leans toward a camera that feels stable in hand without being bulky. The slight additional heft of the E-P5 gives it a more reassuring grip during extended shoots, especially with larger lenses attached.

This size comparison image visually underscores the near-identical footprints but noticeable difference in grip design and body heft. The E-P5 also sports a deeper grip which, combined with a more sculptured body, helps avoid fatigue during active shooting sessions.

Handling and Controls: Which PEN Feels More Intuitive?

While the rangefinder silhouette carries over in both cameras, the control layout and interface design improved significantly from the E-P2 to the E-P5 generation. The latter features a more refined top plate with an improved shutter dial and dedicated exposure compensation dial, which on the E-P2 required navigating menus more often.

The E-P5’s top design facilitates quicker adjustments on the fly, crucial in dynamic genres like street and wildlife photography.

Here’s a side-by-side of the top controls, where you can see the E-P5’s dial placements are more ergonomic and responsive. I often found myself fumbling slightly with the E-P2’s smaller control surfaces under pressure, especially in colder conditions wearing gloves.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: From 12 to 16 Megapixels and Beyond

Both cameras sport Micro Four Thirds sensors measuring 17.3 x 13 mm with a 2.1x crop factor, but the E-P5 boasts a newer 16MP CMOS sensor compared to the E-P2’s older 12MP variant. The sensor’s higher resolution naturally gives the E-P5 an edge for larger prints and cropping flexibility.

However, notable improvements in sensor design on the E-P5 also improve its overall image quality beyond just pixel count.

The technical scores here are telling - the E-P5 scores considerably better on overall DxOmark performance (72 vs. 56), color depth (22.8 vs. 21.5 bits), dynamic range (12.4 vs. 10.4 EV), and low-light ISO capability (effective usable ISO increased from ~500 to nearly 900).

In practical terms, this means the E-P5 produces images with more richness in color gradations, better shadow details in high contrast scenes, and cleaner noise control when you push your ISO to dusk or indoor levels.

LCD Screen and Live View Experience: Shine Through the Touchscreen Upgrade

A standout upgrade in the E-P5 is its 3-inch, high-resolution 1037K-dot tilting touchscreen LCD compared to the fixed 230K-dot HyperCrystal LCD on the E-P2.

The E-P5’s screen not only grants you rich, crisp image playback and intuitive menu navigation but also adds creative flexibility with the tilting mechanism - perfect for low-angle or overhead shots. For street and macro photographers, this makes framing those tricky manual focus shots or discreet captures much easier without needing to contort your body.

On the E-P2, the fixed, lower-resolution screen often felt limiting during outdoor shoots in bright light conditions, where glare and lower detail made critical focusing checks less reliable.

Autofocus Systems: Precision Gained Over Generations

Autofocus on mirrorless cameras, especially in entry-level models, is a make-or-break feature for many photographers. The E-P2 debuted with a contrast-detection AF system with 11 points and basic face detection, good for still photography but somewhat sluggish and prone to hunting in low light or fast action scenarios.

The E-P5 significantly upgraded this with 35 focus points, improved contrast detection AF performance, continuous AF tracking, live view enhancements, and touch AF functionality.

This translates into faster, more confident focusing - critical for wildlife and sports where moments last milliseconds. The E-P5’s AF tracking also handles subject movement much better than the E-P2, which often lagged or lost focus in continuous shooting sequences.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Speeds: Catching the Action

The E-P5 doubles down on speed with a maximum burst rate of 9 frames per second, compared to 3 fps on the E-P2. This difference is immediately noticeable when shooting sports, children, or wildlife where split-second timing is critical.

Additionally, the E-P5’s shutter speed range extends to 1/8000s, giving enhanced control over exposure in bright sunlight or when shooting wide apertures for background blur.

In contrast, the E-P2’s top shutter speed caps at 1/4000s, which can be limiting in some scenarios.

Image Stabilization: The Advantage of 5-Axis Sensor Shift

Both cameras offer in-body image stabilization (IBIS), an invaluable feature for handheld shooting versatility. The E-P2 introduced sensor-based stabilization, which has been a mainstay for Olympus.

However, the E-P5 takes it further with 5-axis sensor stabilization, correcting not only pitch and yaw but also roll and horizontal/vertical shifts. In practical shooting, this means sharper handheld photos at slower shutter speeds - especially useful in macro and low light photography.

The E-P2’s stabilization works well but is less comprehensive, occasionally requiring faster shutter speeds or tripod support.

Portrait Photography: Handling Skin Tones and Background Blur

In portrait situations, I found both cameras can deliver attractive skin tones straight from the sensor, thanks to Olympus’s color science, but the E-P5’s improved color depth and dynamic range give it better tonal gradations.

Its 16MP resolution, paired with 5-axis stabilization, allows you to shoot at wider apertures and lower ISOs while keeping eyes sharp and skin textures smooth. The E-P5’s enhanced face detection autofocus provides reliable eye detection, ensuring pin-sharp portraits even in movement.

The E-P2 can still produce pleasing portraits for casual use but requires more manual input, prudent focusing, and processing to match the E-P5’s output.

The Micro Four Thirds sensor size means background bokeh naturally appears tighter compared to APS-C or full-frame but using fast prime lenses (e.g., Olympus 45mm f/1.8) on either camera creates creamy separation.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range and Weather Considerations

Landscape shooting benefits from expansive dynamic range to preserve details from sky to shadow. Here the E-P5 shines with its 12.4 EV dynamic range compared to the E-P2’s 10.4 EV, capturing subtle transitions in challenging lighting.

Both cameras support RAW capture, essential for extracting maximum data in post-processing. The E-P5’s higher resolution also gives larger print fidelity.

However, neither model offers environmental sealing or weatherproofing, a consideration for outdoors photographers working in tough conditions.

I recommend robust weather protection accessories or careful handling for extended trips in rain or dust.

Wildlife and Sports Photography: AF and Speed Tested

The E-P5’s quicker burst mode of 9 fps paired with advanced continuous AF tracking makes it more suited for fast wildlife and sports photography. The E-P2’s 3 fps and slower autofocus can miss peak moments or fail to track erratically-moving subjects accurately.

The E-P5’s larger autofocus point grid and touch AF enable easier subject acquisition even with long telephoto lenses, like Olympus’s 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO.

The smaller form factor of both models is a plus for inconspicuous shooting in natural environments or arenas.

Street Photography: Discretion and Responsiveness

For street photography, I favor compact, quiet, and fast-to-use cameras. The E-P2’s shutter sound is reasonably quiet, but the E-P5 further optimizes this with electronic shutter options and refined controls, enabling near-silent shooting modes essential for candid moments.

The touchscreen interface on the E-P5 enhances compositional freedom on the go. The slightly larger body remains light and unobtrusive, key for blending in without intimidating subjects.

Macro and Close-Up Work: Focusing and Stabilization

Macro photography demands precise focus and stabilization. Both PENs rely on contrast-detection autofocus, which is less forgiving than phase detection for manual-like accuracy.

However, the 5-axis IBIS of the E-P5 makes handheld macro shooting more practical, reducing blur from hand shake.

Neither camera has native focus stacking or post-focus functions, but both benefit from Olympus’s extensive lens ecosystem with dedicated macro primes.

Low Light and Night/Astro Photography: ISO and Noise Performance

Night and astrophotographers appreciate high ISO performance and long exposure capabilities. The E-P5 outperforms with a maximum ISO of 25600 and usable low-light ISO rated at 895 compared to the E-P2’s 6400 max ISO and 505 low-light score.

Long exposure times up to 60 seconds are supported on both, enabling star trails and night sky captures with a tripod.

The cleaner high ISO noise on the E-P5 means less aggressive noise reduction and better detail retention in shadows.

Video Capabilities: HD Upgrades and Limitations

Video on the E-P5 is another area of improvement with 1080p Full HD at 30 fps using efficient H.264 encoding, compared to the E-P2’s 720p HD 30 fps with Motion JPEG codec.

The E-P5 also adds timelapse video recording while lacking external microphone ports on either model.

Neither supports 4K or advanced video features by modern standards, but for casual or entry-level users, the E-P5 remains a better choice for sharper, more versatile video capture.

Travel and Everyday Use: All-Rounder Versus Lightweight

Considering travel photographers juggling gear, battery life, weight, and versatility, the E-P2’s lighter 355g body and 300-shot battery life means slightly better portability, especially when carrying multiple lenses.

The E-P5’s 420g and 330-shot battery life are still manageable but tilt toward the enthusiast who values enhanced controls and image quality over absolute minimalism.

Both lack built-in wireless connectivity in the E-P2 versus built-in Wi-Fi in the E-P5, an increasingly important feature for instant sharing and remote control.

Build Quality and Durability: What to Expect

Neither model boasts weather sealing or rugged protection, which limits professional reliability in adverse conditions.

The E-P5 has a more robust magnesium alloy frame compared to the polycarbonate-heavy E-P2, giving it a more durable feel without a major weight penalty.

If you shoot professionally or in challenging environments, external protection or a weather-sealed lens becomes mandatory regardless of camera choice.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Both cameras share the Micro Four Thirds mount, granting access to over 100 native lenses - from affordable primes to high-end PRO zooms.

Their fully compatible lens mount makes either PEN a flexible option for diverse photography styles.

Storage and Connectivity

Storage-wise, each uses a single SD/SDHC memory card slot, standard for cameras of their era. USB 2.0 and HDMI ports are provided on both for tethering and external viewing, though neither supports modern USB-C or faster data transfer speeds.

Wireless connectivity marks a clear feature split: the E-P2 has none, while the E-P5 includes built-in Wi-Fi - essential for the modern age of connectivity.

Pricing and Value Comparison

Remarkably, the E-P5 launched at a substantially lower price point ($389) than the E-P2’s original $799, owing to market evolution and camera lifecycle. This makes the E-P5 a more attractive buy, combining advanced features, better image quality, and modern conveniences at an affordable price.

Here’s a summarized photo gallery illustrating the real-world image quality from both bodies, shot side by side under identical conditions:

Olympus E P2 front Olympus E P2 screen back Olympus E P5 front Olympus E P5 screen back

Overall Performance and Ratings

Based on my hands-on tests and aggregated scores, here’s how the cameras fare across key criteria:

These scores confirm the E-P5’s superiority in sensor performance, autofocus, burst speed, video capabilities, and usability.

Performance by Photography Genre

Finally, how do these cameras tailor to different photographic pursuits? The E-P5 generally scores higher across all genres, especially those requiring speed and image precision:

Final Thoughts: Which Olympus PEN Should You Pick?

Both the Olympus PEN E-P2 and E-P5 bring the charm and compactness of Micro Four Thirds interchangeable mirrorless systems to photographers of varying experience. However, their differences highlight how quickly camera technology evolved in a short period.

Choose the Olympus PEN E-P2 If…

• You prioritize ultra-lightweight, pocketable design for casual shooting or as a secondary camera.
• Your budget is higher for a used or rare find, appreciating its classic PEN aesthetic.
• You shoot primarily stills at low burst speeds with ample ambient light.
• You don’t require advanced video, fast continuous AF, or touchscreen controls.
• You are an entry-level photographer who prefers a simplistic, straightforward camera.

Choose the Olympus PEN E-P5 If…

• You demand superior image quality, owing to sensor improvements and higher resolution.
• You cover fast-moving subjects like sports or wildlife requiring quick AF and high burst rates.
• You want flexible shooting angles with a tilting, high-res touchscreen LCD.
• Video is important, with Full HD recording and timelapse support.
• Connectivity and efficient workflows matter, with Wi-Fi built-in.
• You appreciate 5-axis image stabilization for versatile handheld shooting.
• You want the best bang for your budget in the Micro Four Thirds entry-level mirrorless segment.

Closing Notes

I always advise testing cameras yourself where possible, but if your heart leans towards a versatile, performance-packed PEN with modern usability, the E-P5 consistently wins my recommendation. The E-P2 is a charming piece of mirrorless history that still produces delightful images but shows its age in speed and handling.

I hope this in-depth comparison helps you make a confident choice that will fuel your creative journeys - whether capturing urban streets, sweeping landscapes, fast wildlife, or treasured travel moments. Both Olympus PEN cameras hold their legacy, but the E-P5’s advancements deliver palpable benefits for today’s demanding photographer.

If you have any questions about specific features or want tips on lenses compatible with either PEN, feel free to reach out. Photography is a lifelong adventure - I’m here to share the best gear insights to keep you inspired.

Happy shooting!