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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GM5

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 front
Portability
91
Imaging
53
Features
62
Overall
56

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GM5 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
  • Launched May 2010
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL1s
Panasonic GM5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 211g - 99 x 60 x 36mm
  • Announced September 2014
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GM1
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GM5 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GM5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a substantial gap between the resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and GM5 (16MP) but they use the exact same sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL1 was introduced 5 years before the GM5 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a simple summary of how the E-PL1 matches up against the GM5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Panasonic GM5

 E-PL1 GM5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GM5 over the Olympus E-PL1

 GM5 E-PL1 
AnnouncedSeptember 2014May 2010More recent by 52 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic GM5

 E-PL1 GM5 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GM5 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to lug around your camera, you have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL1 has outside measurements 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 GM5 has measurements of 99mm x 60mm x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4") along with a weight of 211 grams (0.47 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GM5 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use during that time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the E-PL1 against the GM5.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GM5 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1 and GM5 is 86 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GM5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GM5 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very difficult to picture the contrast between sensor measurements merely by checking specs. The photograph here will provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1 and GM5.

All in all, the 2 cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different megapixels. You can anticipate the Panasonic GM5 to resolve greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The older E-PL1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GM5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GM5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GM5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic GM5 as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
supports RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
71
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography details
Panasonic GM5 Street photography details
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
76
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
provides focus via touch
lighter than competition (211g)
good ISO range (25,600)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic GM5 as a Sports photography camera
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (290 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
48
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
max shutter speed is low (1/500 seconds)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.8 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery power (220 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic GM5 as a Travel photography camera
51
has built in flash
no Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (290 per charge)
low MP (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
71
lighter than competition (211g)
provides focus via touch
MP count decent (16MP)
not so great battery power (220 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic GM5 Landscape photography highlights
55
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inch)
low MP (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (290 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
69
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery power (220 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging info
Panasonic GM5 Vlogging info
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic support
34
built-in touchscreen
comes with face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (211g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
missing external mic jack
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GM5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic GM5
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2010-05-17 2014-09-15
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V Venus Engine
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 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4592 x 3448
Max native ISO 3200 25600
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Min boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/500 secs
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/16000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 5.8 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 secs -
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) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334g (0.74 pounds) 211g (0.47 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 99 x 60 x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 54 66
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 22.1
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 11.7
DXO Low light score 487 721
Other
Battery life 290 photographs 220 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 DMW-BLH7
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $288 $966