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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH5

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH5 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
  • Released May 2010
  • Updated by Olympus E-PL1s
Panasonic FH5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Released January 2011
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FS18
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH5 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic FH5, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a significant gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and FH5 (16MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and FH5 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL1 was launched 7 months before the FH5 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH5 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a full comparison, here is a short summary of how the E-PL1 matches up versus the FH5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Panasonic FH5

 E-PL1 FH5 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Olympus E-PL1

 FH5 E-PL1 
ReleasedJanuary 2011May 2010Newer by 7 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic FH5

 E-PL1 FH5 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions2.7"2.7"Equal screen measurements
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera often, you will need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL1 has got exterior dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Panasonic FH5 has proportions of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic FH5 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilising at the time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PL1 compared to the FH5.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH5 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and FH5 is 86 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions simply by seeing specs. The picture underneath will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1 and FH5.

All in all, both of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1 because of its bigger sensor will make getting shallow DOF easier and the Panasonic FH5 will produce more detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic FH5 Portrait photography advice
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
low resolution (12 megapixels)
34
decent MP (16 megapixels)
includes face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography information
Panasonic FH5 Street photography information
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
67
image stabilization (Optical)
offers focus via touch
lighter than others in class (121g)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography information
Panasonic FH5 Sports photography information
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (290 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
40
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
slow frames per second (4.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FH5 as a Travel photography camera
51
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
not so great battery (290 CIPA)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
71
lighter than others in class (121 grams)
offers focus via touch
decent MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography features
Panasonic FH5 Landscape photography features
55
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
small screen (2.7")
low resolution (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (290 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
38
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not available
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FH5 as a Vlogging camera
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone port
33
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
lighter than others in class (121g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic support
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FH5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic FH5
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5
Also called as - Lumix DMC-FS18
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2010-05-17 2011-01-05
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 3.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 334g (0.74 pounds) 121g (0.27 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 54 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 487 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 photographs 260 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $288 $169