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Olympus E-P5 vs Olympus E-PL2

Portability
85
Imaging
53
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-P5 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47

Olympus E-P5 vs Olympus E-PL2 Key Specs

Olympus E-P5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 420g - 122 x 69 x 37mm
  • Announced October 2013
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-P3
Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Released February 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PL3
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Olympus E-P5 vs Olympus E-PL2 Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-P5 and Olympus E-PL2, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras and they are both produced by Olympus. There exists a significant gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-P5 (16MP) and E-PL2 (12MP) but they use the exact same sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-P5 was launched 2 years later than the E-PL2 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving through a complete comparison, below is a concise summation of how the E-P5 matches up against the E-PL2 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P5 over the Olympus E-PL2

 E-P5 E-PL2 
ReleasedOctober 2013February 2011More recent by 33 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k460kCrisper screen (+577k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Olympus E-P5

 E-PL2 E-P5 

Common features in the Olympus E-P5 and Olympus E-PL2

 E-P5 E-PL2 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-P5 vs Olympus E-PL2 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P5 comes with physical measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") with a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs) and the Olympus E-PL2 has measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-P5 and Olympus E-PL2 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use at that time. The following is the front view size comparison of the E-P5 and the E-PL2.

Olympus E-P5 vs Olympus E-PL2 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P5 and E-PL2 is 85 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-P5 vs Olympus E-PL2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P5 vs Olympus E-PL2 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to imagine the gap in sensor measurements merely by going through specifications. The visual underneath should provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P5 and E-PL2.

To sum up, each of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You should count on the Olympus E-P5 to provide greater detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The fresher E-P5 should have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P5 vs Olympus E-PL2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P5 vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P5 vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Portrait photography advice
Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography advice
71
has manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/320s)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
supports RAW formats
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Street photography features
Olympus E-PL2 Street photography features
78
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
offers focus by touch
good high ISO (25,600)
heavier than average in class (420 grams)
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Sports photography information
Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography information
68
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
lacks phase detect auto focus
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
slow fps (3.0 fps)
low MP (12MP)
terrible battery (280 per charge)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Travel photography highlights
Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography highlights
68
offers focus by touch
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
heavier than average in class (420 grams)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
51
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse mode
terrible battery (280 shots)
low MP (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P5 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-PL2 as a Landscape photography camera
79
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
61
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (280 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Vlogging information
Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging information
33
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
missing mic jack
heavier than average in class (420g)
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic support
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Olympus E-P5 vs Olympus E-PL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P5 and Olympus E-PL2
 Olympus PEN E-P5Olympus PEN E-PL2
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-P5 Olympus PEN E-PL2
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2013-10-03 2011-02-11
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Truepic V
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4032 x 3024
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,037k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology 3:2 LCD capacitive touchscreen HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 9.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (ISO 100) 10.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (1st or 2nd curtain), Manual (1/1 - 1/64) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/320s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
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 420 gr (0.93 lb) 362 gr (0.80 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 72 55
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 21.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 10.2
DXO Low light rating 895 573
Other
Battery life 330 images 280 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $389 $0