Olympus E-PL1s vs Samsung NX5

The following is a extended analysis of the Olympus E-PL1s versus Samsung NX5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by rivals Olympus and Samsung. The sensor resolution of the E-PL1s (12MP) and the NX5 (15MP) is relatively well matched but the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and NX5 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL1s was manufactured 6 months after the NX5 which means that they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Samsung NX5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going through a full comparison, below is a quick overview of how the E-PL1s grades vs the NX5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL1s & Samsung NX5. The entire galleries are available at Olympus E-PL1s Gallery & Samsung NX5 Gallery.

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL1s offers external measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Samsung NX5 has proportions of 123mm x 87mm x 40mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 1.6") with a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL1s versus Samsung NX5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have at that moment. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the E-PL1s compared to the NX5.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1s and NX5 is 86 and 80 respectively.

In many cases, it is tough to envision the gap between sensor dimensions just by checking a spec sheet. The picture below should offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL1s and NX5.

Clearly, the two cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1s because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Samsung NX5 will give greater detail due to its extra 3MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots a little more aggressively.