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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF5

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
43
Overall
46
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
49
Features
54
Overall
51

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF5 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
  • Announced May 2010
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL1s
Panasonic GF5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 267g - 108 x 67 x 37mm
  • Released April 2012
  • Replaced the Panasonic GF3
  • Successor is Panasonic GF6
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF5 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the GF5 (12MP) is pretty comparable and both cameras have the identical sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL1 was launched 22 months prior to the GF5 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick summation of how the E-PL1 scores versus the GF5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Panasonic GF5

 E-PL1 GF5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Olympus E-PL1

 GF5 E-PL1 
ReleasedApril 2012May 2010Fresher by 22 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic GF5

 E-PL1 GF5 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF5 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera often, you're going to have to consider its weight and dimensions. 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) and the Panasonic GF5 has dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL1 compared to the GF5.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF5 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1 and GF5 is 86 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF5 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to picture the gap in sensor sizing only by checking out specifications. The visual below should provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1 and GF5.

Plainly, both cameras feature the identical sensor size and the same exact MP and you should expect comparable quality of photos though you will want to take the release date of the cameras into account. The older E-PL1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic GF5 Portrait photography factors
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
56
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL1
Street photography with Panasonic GF5
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
fixed screen
70
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
has touch to focus
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography details
Panasonic GF5 Sports photography details
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (290 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
41
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
max fps low (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography features
Panasonic GF5 Travel photography features
52
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse function
not so great battery (290 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
61
has touch to focus
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL1
Landscape photography with Panasonic GF5
55
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inches)
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery (290 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse function
59
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic GF5 Vlogging highlights
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic port
32
touchscreen
provides face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
doesn't have external mic socket
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic GF5
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2010-05-17 2012-04-05
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 100 160
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 6.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 gr (0.74 lb) 267 gr (0.59 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 54 50
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 20.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 10.0
DXO Low light rating 487 573
Other
Battery life 290 photographs 360 photographs
Form 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
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $288 $600