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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic G5

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 front
Portability
74
Imaging
52
Features
66
Overall
57

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic G5 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • 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
Panasonic G5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 396g - 120 x 83 x 71mm
  • Launched July 2012
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic G3
  • Updated by Panasonic G6
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic G5 Overview

On this page, we are looking at the Olympus E-PL1 versus Panasonic G5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a crucial gap between the resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and G5 (16MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL1 was launched 3 years prior to the G5 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic G5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple view of how the E-PL1 scores against the G5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Panasonic G5

 E-PL1 G5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic G5 over the Olympus E-PL1

 G5 E-PL1 
LaunchedJuly 2012May 2010More recent by 26 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic G5

 E-PL1 G5 
Focus manually More precise focusing

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic G5 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL1 offers physical measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Panasonic G5 has specifications of 120mm x 83mm x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") with a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL1 versus Panasonic G5 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL1 vs the G5.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic G5 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and G5 is 86 and 74 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic G5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic G5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to visualize the difference between sensor measurements purely by checking specifications. The visual here should give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL1 and G5.

Plainly, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You should anticipate the Panasonic G5 to give you extra detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The older E-PL1 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic G5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic G5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic G5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography details
Panasonic G5 Portrait photography details
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
71
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography features
Panasonic G5 Street photography features
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no articulating screen
66
screen articulates
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
has focus via touch
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competitors (396g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography information
Panasonic G5 Sports photography information
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
not so great battery pack (290 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
51
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
max fps low (6.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic G5 as a Travel photography camera
51
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
not so great battery pack (290 shots)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
66
has focus via touch
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors (396g)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL1
Landscape photography with Panasonic G5
55
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inches)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (290 shots)
missing Time Lapse recording
65
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
missing Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL1
Vlogging with Panasonic G5
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic jack
62
selfie friendly display
has touchscreen
has face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lack of image stabilization
missing microphone port
more heavy than competitors (396g)
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic G5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic G5
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2010-05-17 2012-07-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V Venus Engine VII FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 100 160
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 10.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25fps
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 gr (0.74 pounds) 396 gr (0.87 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 120 x 83 x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 54 61
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 21.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 11.6
DXO Low light rating 487 618
Other
Battery life 290 photographs 320 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $288 $699