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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FH5

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FH5 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1s
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Launched November 2010
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL1
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic FH5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Announced January 2011
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FS18
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FH5 Overview

The following is a extensive comparison of the Olympus E-PL1s versus Panasonic FH5, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a huge difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL1s (12MP) and FH5 (16MP) and the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and FH5 (1/2.3") boast different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL1s was unveiled about the same time to the FH5 and they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH5 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a detailed comparison, here is a brief summation of how the E-PL1s scores against the FH5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Panasonic FH5

 E-PL1s FH5 
Manually focus Very precise focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 FH5 E-PL1s 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic FH5

 E-PL1s FH5 
AnnouncedNovember 2010January 2011Same generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions2.7"2.7"Equal display dimensions
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FH5 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1s enjoys outer dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FH5 has dimensions of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") along with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL1s versus Panasonic FH5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use at the time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PL1s against the FH5.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FH5 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1s and FH5 is 86 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FH5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FH5 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is tough to imagine the difference in sensor dimensions simply by going through specs. The picture underneath will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1s and FH5.

All in all, both the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1s having a larger sensor is going to make getting bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic FH5 will produce more detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FH5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FH5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FH5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FH5 as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
34
good resolution (16 megapixels)
supports face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FH5 as a Street photography camera
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen does not articulate
67
image stabilization (Optical)
features touch to focus
lighter than competition in class (121 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Sports photography factors
Panasonic FH5 Sports photography factors
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery power (290 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
40
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FH5 as a Travel photography camera
51
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
not so great battery power (290 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
71
lighter than competition in class (121 grams)
features touch to focus
good resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
no Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography info
Panasonic FH5 Landscape photography info
55
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
small screen (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (290 shots)
does not have Timelapse recording
38
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging factors
Panasonic FH5 Vlogging factors
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone jack
33
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
lighter than competition in class (121g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone support
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic FH5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic FH5
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sPanasonic Lumix DMC-FH5
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1s Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-FS18
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-11-16 2011-01-05
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface 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
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 3.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 334 gr (0.74 lb) 121 gr (0.27 lb)
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 All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 290 photos 260 photos
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
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $599 $169