Comparing the Olympus PEN E-P5 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28: Which Camera Matches Your Photography Vision?

Selecting the right camera to fit your creative ambitions can be a rewarding yet challenging journey. Today, we put under the microscope two distinct but noteworthy cameras: the Olympus PEN E-P5, announced in 2013 and lauded as an entry-level mirrorless system, and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28, a 2009 compact superzoom beloved for its fixed-lens versatility. These cameras occupy very different spaces in the market, yet both have earned recognition for particular strengths.

Drawing from hands-on experience testing thousands of cameras across genres and years, let’s explore how these two models stack up from sensor to usability and photography styles, helping you find a match that fits your creative toolkit.

First Impressions: Hands in the Frame

Both cameras sport notably different body designs, affecting the tactile experience, portability, and handling.

Olympus PEN E-P5: Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras like the E-P5 blend compactness with manual control feel. It measures 122 x 69 x 37 mm and weighs 420 grams, striking a balance between portability and substantial grip presence. The body feels solid in hand, borrowed from Olympus’ heritage of shoot-by-feel control, making it especially satisfying for those who like manual focusing or custom exposure modes.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28: The FZ28 is a bulkier compact superzoom at 118 x 75 x 89 mm, weighing a similar 417 grams. It integrates a fixed 27–486 mm equivalent zoom lens, which explains its depth. This bulk offers reach for telephoto enthusiasts but could be less pocket-friendly for street or travel photography.

Design Language and Control Layout

A camera’s usability hinges on its design and physical controls.

The Olympus E-P5 channels a retro aesthetic echoed in a logical layout: dedicated dials for exposure compensation, shutter speed, and aperture make shooting intuitive once you familiarize yourself. Its tilting 3" touchscreen LCD invites a flexible approach to composition.

In contrast, the Panasonic FZ28 emphasizes zoom versatility over direct manual controls. Buttons cluster around the thumb area, optimized for quick zoom and autofocus toggle. The fixed 2.7" non-touchscreen limits interactive options, and the rangefinder-style grip suits users prioritizing telephoto reach in a relatively pocketable package.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Camera

Sensor size and quality profoundly influence image fidelity, noise handling, and dynamic range.

The E-P5’s Four Thirds CMOS sensor blows away the FZ28 in size, resolution, and technical prowess. A larger sensor area translates to superior light gathering, resulting in better image quality with reduced noise, enhanced color depth, and wider dynamic range - a critical advantage in challenging lighting conditions.

From personal tests, this sensor handles skin tones and subtle gradients much more smoothly, which benefits portrait and landscape photographers searching for fidelity and latitude in post-processing. The FZ28’s smaller sensor, paired with a CCD, is more prone to noise and limited in dynamic range, especially above ISO 400.

Autofocus Systems: Speed and Accuracy for Every Shot

An autofocusing system supports your creative spontaneity and subject capture success.

The E-P5 incorporates a 35-point autofocus system utilizing contrast detection with face and eye detection capabilities, a rarity in its segment and vintage. This feature helps photographers nail sharp focus on portrait subjects’ eyes, boosting keeper rate in important shots.

In contrast, the FZ28 relies on a single-area contrast detection, adequate for static subjects but struggling to maintain focus on dynamic scenes or moving subjects. We found the FZ28 AF slower and less reliable in continuous shooting scenarios compared to the E-P5.

Build Quality and Environmental Resistance

Assessing durability and weather resistance informs how rugged you can be with your camera.

Neither camera offers weather sealing or ruggedness features that protect against dust or moisture. However, the Olympus E-P5 boasts a more solid metal alloy chassis, lending confidence during travel and casual outdoor use. The FZ28’s plastic body, while light, feels less durable and more vulnerable to rough handling.

Viewing Experience: Screens and Viewfinders

Composition clarity and feedback are crucial - especially in bright sunlight.

The Olympus E-P5’s 3" 3:2 tilting touchscreen LCD with 1037k dots displays crystal-clear live view and menu navigation. The tilting function aids low-angle shooting and overhead captures, bringing creativity to diverse perspectives.

The Panasonic FZ28 sports a fixed 2.7" LCD with 230k dots, noticeably lower resolution, compromising sharpness and color accuracy. It compensates with a built-in electronic viewfinder (EVF), useful for bright conditions, although the EVF resolution is modest.

In our testing, E-P5’s touchscreen responsiveness significantly eases menu access and focusing point selection, an asset for fast-moving street or event photography.

Lens Versatility: Expand or Zoom?

Lens options directly affect your flexibility across photographic genres.

One of the Olympus E-P5’s key benefits is its access to the extensive Micro Four Thirds (MFT) lens ecosystem, covering primes, zooms, macros, and specialty optics. This adaptability lets photographers tailor their system for portraits, macro, wildlife, or street.

Meanwhile, the Panasonic FZ28 uses a fixed superzoom lens with an impressive equivalent zoom range from 27 mm wide to 486 mm telephoto. This makes it versatile for travel and wildlife snapshots without packing extra glass but compromises image quality and creative aperture control at telephoto. The wider aperture at the short end (f/2.8) also benefits low-light shooting.

Continuous Shooting and Burst Performance

Action and wildlife photogs rely on continuous frame rates to freeze motion and capture peak moments.

The E-P5 delivers a 9 frames per second burst rate with AF tracking, exceptional for an entry-level mirrorless model. This speed pairs well with tracking systems enabling effective sports, wildlife, or street photography.

The FZ28 offers a modest 3 fps burst, limiting its ability to capture fast action sequences. Additionally, AF does not track during continuous shooting, so focus and sharpness are less dependable across multiple frames.

Specialized Photography Genres: Where Does Each Excel?

Let’s explore how these cameras perform across popular photographic styles.

Portrait Photography

• Olympus E-P5: Eye-detection autofocus, higher resolution sensor, and superior color depth make it the winner for skin tone rendition and natural bokeh when paired with fast MFT primes.
• Panasonic FZ28: Fixed lens aperture and noisier image at higher ISO limit portrait quality. Best for casual snapshots.

Landscape Photography

• E-P5: Larger sensor size and better dynamic range excels in retaining shadow and highlight details. Tilting LCD supports flexible compositions.
• FZ28: Fixed lens limits depth of field control, smaller sensor struggles in subtle tonal gradations.

Wildlife Photography

• E-P5: Faster burst rate and AF tracking support capturing unpredictable wildlife.
• FZ28: Superzoom gives reach but slower AF and 3 fps burst rate can miss decisive moments.

Sports Photography

• E-P5: 9 fps and tracking AF ideal; low light performance stands out.
• FZ28: Modest speed and slower AF limit success.

Street Photography

• E-P5: Compact and discreet rangefinder styling with silent electronic shutter mode.
• FZ28: Bulkier body and lens reach could be intrusive.

Macro Photography

• E-P5: Access to specialized macro lenses and 5-axis sensor stabilization assist in precision close-ups.
• FZ28: 1cm macro mode provides convenience but less control or quality.

Night/Astro Photography

• E-P5: High ISO up to 25600 and better noise control facilitate low-light shooting.
• FZ28: Limited ISO and noise issues restrict night use.

Video Capabilities

The Olympus E-P5 captures full HD video at 30 fps and benefits from 5-axis sensor stabilization, which is a boon for handheld recording, minimizing shake and blur. The FZ28 maxes out at 720p, suitable for casual use but falls short for more demanding content creators.

Battery Life and Storage Considerations

• The Olympus E-P5 offers 330 shots per charge using an internal lithium-ion battery, average for mirrorless cameras of this period. A single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot covers storage.
• The Panasonic FZ28 details battery life less explicitly but uses proprietary batteries and supports SD/SDHC and MMC cards. It lacks wireless connectivity, limiting instant sharing.

Connectivity and Modern Features

• The E-P5 includes built-in wireless connectivity allowing image transfer and remote shooting, adding flexibility for smartphone integration or off-camera control.
• The FZ28 has no wireless features or HDMI output, reflecting its earlier release era.

Overall Performance and Scores

This visual sum-up aligns with detailed tests showing the greater technical prowess of the Olympus E-P5, scoring notably higher on metrics crucial for image quality, autofocus, and burst shooting.

Photography Genre Scoring Breakdown

Evident is the Olympus E-P5’s versatility and overall superiority for technically demanding genres such as portraits, wildlife, and sports, while the Panasonic FZ28 finds its sweet spot in casual telephoto and travel snaps.

Real-World Sample Images

Olympus E P5 front Olympus E P5 screen back Panasonic FZ28 front Panasonic FZ28 screen back

Side-by-side images illustrate the difference sensor size and technology make: the E-P5 produces richer tonal depth and less noise at higher ISO settings, whereas the FZ28 images exhibit more grain and lusher color saturation, albeit with less detail.

Final Verdict: Choosing the Right Fit for Your Creative Path

Who Should Go for the Olympus PEN E-P5?

• You desire professional-grade image quality from a compact, stylish body.
• You want creative flexibility with a vast Micro Four Thirds lens range.
• You shoot a variety of genres including portraits, landscapes, wildlife, and video.
• You appreciate modern features like touchscreens, 5-axis stabilization, and wireless control.
• You are ready to invest in a system that supports progressive photography skills.

Who Is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 Best For?

• You seek an all-in-one camera with an extensive zoom range without lens changes.
• You prefer ease of use and compactness on a budget.
• You mainly shoot casual travel, family events, or distant subjects.
• You are less concerned with cutting-edge image quality or fast continuous shooting.

Getting Started: Accessories and Workflow Tips

• If you opt for the Olympus E-P5, explore fast prime lenses (such as the 45mm f/1.8) for portrait bokeh or the 12-40mm f/2.8 for landscapes. Consider spare batteries as mirrorless cameras consume more power.
• For the FZ28, a sturdy tripod can aid long-zoom telephoto stability and low-light shooting, compensating for slower burst speeds and AF.
• Invest in a reliable memory card rated for fast write speeds if shooting bursts or video.

Closing Thoughts

Both the Olympus PEN E-P5 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 boast unique strengths shaped by their design era, target users, and technical approaches. The E-P5 stands as a versatile, image-quality champion well suited for enthusiasts aiming to grow their photographic craft. The FZ28 presents an accessible zoom-centric solution for casual shooters and those prioritizing travel convenience and composition simplicity.

We encourage you to try holding and operating both cameras if possible, to appreciate the ergonomics and real-world responsiveness that no spec sheet can fully capture. Remember: the best camera is one you enjoy using, fits your creative goals, and inspires you to keep shooting.

Happy camera hunting!