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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic GH5

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
43
Overall
46
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH5 front
Portability
59
Imaging
60
Features
89
Overall
71

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic GH5 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1s
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Released November 2010
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL1
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic GH5
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 725g - 139 x 98 x 87mm
  • Revealed January 2017
  • Previous Model is Panasonic GH4
  • Newer Model is Panasonic GH5 II
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic GH5 Overview

On this page, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic GH5, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference among the image resolutions of the E-PL1s (12MP) and GH5 (20MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL1s was manufactured 7 years before the GH5 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic GH5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a detailed comparison, here is a simple summary of how the E-PL1s grades against the GH5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Panasonic GH5

 E-PL1s GH5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH5 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 GH5 E-PL1s 
RevealedJanuary 2017November 2010Newer by 74 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3.2"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1620k230kClearer screen (+1390k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic GH5

 E-PL1s GH5 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic GH5 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to travel with your camera regularly, you'll need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL1s enjoys outer 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 GH5 has specifications of 139mm x 98mm x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4") along with a weight of 725 grams (1.60 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic GH5 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have at that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL1s versus the GH5.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic GH5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1s and GH5 is 86 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic GH5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic GH5 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions simply by looking through specifications. The pic here should provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL1s and GH5.

Plainly, the two cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Panasonic GH5 to provide you with more detail due to its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1s will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic GH5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic GH5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic GH5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Portrait photography features
Panasonic GH5 Portrait photography features
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW files
low resolution (12 megapixels)
76
has manual focus
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Street photography with Panasonic GH5
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
74
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
has focus via touch
weather sealing
above average high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Sports photography with Panasonic GH5
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
max fps low (3.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12MP)
not so great battery (290 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
68
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
weather sealing
not so great battery life (410 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Travel photography info
Panasonic GH5 Travel photography info
52
has built in flash
no Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (290 CIPA)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
68
weather sealing
supports bluetooth
has focus via touch
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
not so great battery life (410 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic GH5 as a Landscape photography camera
55
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
small screen (2.7 inch)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (290 per charge)
no Time Lapse recording
75
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3.2 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
two card slots
not so great battery life (410 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging factors
Panasonic GH5 Vlogging factors
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic jack
75
selfie friendly screen
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection autofocus
video res high (4096 x 2160 pixels)
has external microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic GH5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic GH5
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sPanasonic Lumix DMC-GH5
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1s Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH5
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Released 2010-11-16 2017-01-04
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
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 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Minimum enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 225
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3.2"
Screen resolution 230k dots 1,620k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,680k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.76x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto/Redeye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On w/Redeye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync w/Redeye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 4096 x 2160 (24p), 3840 x 2160 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 4096x2160
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1(5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334g (0.74 lb) 725g (1.60 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 139 x 98 x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 77
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 807
Other
Battery life 290 images 410 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs; 10 secs w/3 shots)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots One Dual
Price at release $599 $1,298