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Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus E-PL5

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus E-PL5 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Revealed February 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL3
Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Introduced September 2012
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus E-PL5 Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-PL2 versus Olympus E-PL5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras and they are both produced by Olympus. There exists a sizeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and E-PL5 (16MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL2 was announced 19 months earlier than the E-PL5 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the E-PL2 grades against the E-PL5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Olympus E-PL5

 E-PL2 E-PL5 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Olympus E-PL2

 E-PL5 E-PL2 
IntroducedSeptember 2012February 2011Fresher by 19 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Olympus E-PL5

 E-PL2 E-PL5 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Screen resolution460k460kSame screen resolution

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus E-PL5 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL2 comes with physical dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) and the Olympus E-PL5 has proportions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL2 versus Olympus E-PL5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is a front view size comparison of the E-PL2 vs the E-PL5.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus E-PL5 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL2 and E-PL5 is 85 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus E-PL5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus E-PL5 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to see the contrast between sensor sizing simply by checking specifications. The graphic below will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL2 and E-PL5.

To sum up, both the cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit not the same MP. You should count on the Olympus E-PL5 to give greater detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The older E-PL2 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus E-PL5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography information
Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography information
60
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
71
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL2
Street photography with Olympus E-PL5
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen does not articulate
85
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography details
Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography details
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12MP)
terrible battery pack (280 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography information
Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography information
51
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
terrible battery pack (280 per charge)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
75
comes with focus by touch
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-PL5 as a Landscape photography camera
61
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (280 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
74
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging info
Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging info
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
does not feature selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic jack
78
selfie friendly display
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Olympus E-PL5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Olympus E-PL5
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Olympus PEN E-PL5
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL2 Olympus PEN E-PL5
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-02-11 2012-09-17
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic V -
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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 35
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 362 gr (0.80 lb) 325 gr (0.72 lb)
Physical dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 72
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.2 12.3
DXO Low light rating 573 889
Other
Battery life 280 photos 360 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $0 $400