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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus E-PL5

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus E-PL5 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Revealed May 2010
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL1s
Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Revealed September 2012
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus E-PL5 Overview

Here is a complete assessment of the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus E-PL5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras and they are both manufactured by Olympus. There exists a substantial gap between the resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and E-PL5 (16MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL1 was launched 3 years before the E-PL5 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the E-PL1 grades vs the E-PL5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Olympus E-PL5

 E-PL1 E-PL5 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Olympus E-PL1

 E-PL5 E-PL1 
RevealedSeptember 2012May 2010Fresher by 28 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus E-PL5

 E-PL1 E-PL5 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus E-PL5 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera frequently, you need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1 enjoys outside measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL5 has dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus E-PL5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you use at that moment. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the E-PL1 vs the E-PL5.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus E-PL5 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1 and E-PL5 is 86 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus E-PL5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus E-PL5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizing purely by checking specs. The graphic below will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1 and E-PL5.

All in all, both of these cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You can expect the Olympus E-PL5 to resolve greater detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older E-PL1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus E-PL5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL1
Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL5
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
71
manual focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography features
Olympus E-PL5 Street photography features
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
fixed screen
85
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
features focus via touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography advice
Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography advice
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
max fps low (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
not so great battery pack (290 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL1
Travel photography with Olympus E-PL5
51
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse function
not so great battery pack (290 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
75
features focus via touch
decent megapixels (16MP)
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-PL5 as a Landscape photography camera
55
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
not so great battery pack (290 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
74
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging information
Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging information
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone jack
78
selfie friendly display
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have external mic port
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus E-PL5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus E-PL5
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Olympus PEN E-PL5
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Olympus PEN E-PL5
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2010-05-17 2012-09-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 35
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334g (0.74 lbs) 325g (0.72 lbs)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 54 72
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 12.3
DXO Low light rating 487 889
Other
Battery life 290 photographs 360 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $288 $400