Olympus PEN E-PL2 vs Panasonic Lumix DC-S5: A Deep Dive for Photographers Seeking Their Ideal Mirrorless Camera

When it comes to mirrorless cameras, the landscape has transformed dramatically over the past decade. Comparing a classic entry-level model like the Olympus PEN E-PL2 against a modern professional powerhouse such as the Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 is a bit like contrasting a sprightly compact car with a luxury SUV - both have their places, but serve very different purposes.

I’ve put both cameras through extensive real-world and technical assessments to help you understand not just their specs, but how those specs translate to performance across various photography disciplines. Whether you’re an enthusiast hunting for your first mirrorless or a pro weighing up an upgrade, this comparison aims to empower your decision with practical insights that only come after hands-on testing of thousands of cameras.

Let’s unpack these two quite distinct cameras - in build, sensor tech, autofocus, video, usability - and see where each one shines best.

Feeling the Difference: Size, Build, and Ergonomics

First impressions count, and handling these two cameras tells you a lot about their intended users.

The Olympus E-PL2 is a compact, lightweight rangefinder-style mirrorless camera. At just 362g and roughly palm-sized (114 x 72 x 42 mm), it's designed for portability and casual use. Its retro styling cues and minimal weight make it comfortable for everyday carry and street shooting, especially if you’re stepping up from a compact or smartphone.

Meanwhile, the Panasonic Lumix S5 weighs nearly twice as much (714g) and carries an SLR-style mirrorless body (133 x 97 x 82 mm). This heftier frame accommodates a full-frame sensor and greater internal complexity including 5-axis sensor stabilization and more robust controls.

Looking at the top layout, the Panasonic S5 provides a familiar pro-style interface with dedicated dials for ISO, shutter speed, and exposure compensation, plus logical button placement - earned through years of Panasonic's S-series development. The Olympus E-PL2 is significantly more minimalistic: exposure controls exist, but require navigating through menus more often. No dedicated top dials here, reflecting its beginner-friendly positioning.

For ergonomics, I personally find the S5’s grip well-shaped for longer shooting sessions, while the E-PL2 is ideal if you prioritize pocketability and low weight. If you often shoot outdoors or in challenging weather, note the Panasonic’s environmental sealing – Olympus PEN E-PL2 offers none, so you’ll need to be cautious about moisture or dust exposure.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Any camera’s sensor defines image quality potential, so let’s contrast these very different beasts.

The Olympus E-PL2 sports a Four Thirds sensor, measuring about 17.3 x 13 mm with 12MP resolution. Despite Olympus’ renowned Micro Four Thirds lens ecosystem, this generation sensor shows its age - smaller size implies more noise at higher ISOs, and resolution limits print size and cropping flexibility.

In contrast, Panasonic’s S5 houses a full-frame sensor (35.6 x 23.8 mm) with 24MP resolution - effectively double the sensor area. This larger sensor collects more light, delivering cleaner images especially in low light, higher dynamic range, and greater detail.

DXOMark scores (not available for S5, but based on similar full-frame models) clearly favor the S5 in color depth, dynamic range, and low-light ISO performance. The E-PL2’s DxOMark overall score of 55, color depth of 21.4 bits, and dynamic range near 10 stops lag behind what the S5 can achieve by a significant margin.

For portraits, landscapes, or any genre where image quality matters - Panasonic S5’s sensor will likely deliver richer tonal gradations, cleaner shadows, and more forgiving highlights. Olympus’s MFT sensor still has charm and utility, especially with its signature micro four thirds lenses that often offer excellent sharpness and close-range capabilities.

Autofocus and Speed: Tracking the Action

Autofocus systems and burst shooting rates define how well cameras handle fast or unpredictable subjects - critical for wildlife, sports, and active street photography.

The Olympus E-PL2 relies on contrast-detection AF with 11 focus points and face detection. It’s capable of AF-S, AF-C, and face-priority, but tracking fast-moving subjects is limited. Continuous shooting is modest at about 3 fps, which feels slow if you’re following athletes or animals.

The Panasonic S5 ups the game with 225 AF points, including eye-detection AF for humans, and supports touch AF on the live view screen. Although it also uses contrast-detection based autofocus, the processing is vastly improved enabling smoother subject tracking and precise focus even in challenging conditions.

Burst shooting reaches 7 fps on the S5, further aiding you in capturing decisive moments. In real-world use, the S5 focuses faster and more reliably on moving subjects than the E-PL2, making it far more suitable if sports or wildlife photography is your priority.

LCD Screens and Viewfinders: Your Window to the World

How you frame and review images matters, especially when shooting in bright light or at odd angles.

The Olympus E-PL2 features a fixed 3.0-inch HyperCrystal LCD with 460k-dot resolution. It’s bright and clear for its era, but fixed positioning limits creativity and convenience - difficult to compose low or high-angle shots without awkward postures.

By contrast, the Panasonic S5’s fully articulating 3.0-inch touchscreen LCD boasts 1.84 million dots, much brighter and sharper. This versatile screen is perfect for video, vlogging, macro, and creative compositions.

The Olympus requires optional electronic viewfinder attachment, which is a downside if you prefer eye-level framing. The Panasonic S5 includes a 2.36M-dot EVF with 100% coverage and 0.74x magnification - bright, sharp, and responsive. Eye-level viewfinders provide stability and better control in bright sun, where LCDs can wash out.

If you value a fully articulating touchscreen and a great electronic viewfinder for both photo and video, Panasonic clearly leads here.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility: The Glass Factor

A camera's long-term value depends heavily on the lenses and accessories you can use.

Olympus’s E-PL2 uses the Micro Four Thirds mount, offering an extensive selection of over 100 lenses covering everything from ultra-wide to super-telephoto, including wonderful third-party options from Sigma, Tamron, and others. The small sensor size contributes to more compact and often affordable lenses.

Olympus E PL2 front Olympus E PL2 screen back Panasonic S5 front Panasonic S5 screen back

Panasonic S5 mounts Leica L lenses (also used by Sigma and Tamron's full-frame lenses), providing access to high-quality optics suitable for full-frame shooting. While fewer lenses exist compared to Micro Four Thirds, the available lenses tend to be more professional-grade and robust. However, the lenses tend to be larger, heavier, and more costly.

If you value compactness and budget lens options, Micro Four Thirds has more variety and affordability. If ultimate image quality and professional lenses are priority, the Lumix/Sigma/Leica full-frame ecosystem will suit better despite greater weight and cost.

Special Features for Photographers: Stabilization, Video, and More

Olympus E-PL2 has basic sensor-based image stabilization and a built-in flash, helpful for casual use. Video capabilities are elementary - 720p recording at 30 fps in Motion JPEG format, which is dated and limits versatility.

The Panasonic S5 boasts 5-axis in-body image stabilization which pairs superbly with stabilized lenses for sharp handheld photos and smooth video. It has no built-in flash but supports external flashes with advanced modes.

Video features on the S5 differentiate it substantially:

• 4K UHD video up to 60p at 200 Mbps
• 10-bit recording, supporting H.264 and H.265 codecs
• Full articulating touchscreen ideal for vlogging
• Microphone and headphone ports for professional audio monitoring
• Focus stacking and bracketing for macro and landscape applications

For creatives who mix stills with video or need a camera that can handle professional video tasks, the Panasonic S5 is an excellent fit.

Shooting Experiences Across Genres

Let me give you a breakdown of how these cameras perform in practice - since that’s what counts.

Portraits

• E-PL2: MFT sensor means greater depth of field at equivalent apertures, so achieving that creamy bokeh requires fast lenses (which exist but cost more). Face detection is helpful, but lack of eye-detect AF can be limiting. Skin tones are decent but less nuanced than full-frame.
• S5: Full-frame sensor excels at isolating subjects with shallow depth of field. Eye and face detection work reliably, capturing sharp portraits with beautiful bokeh. Skin tones are rich and natural.

Landscape

• E-PL2: Decent overall, but 12MP resolution limits fine detail on large prints or heavy cropping. Dynamic range is reasonable but shadows tend to clip sooner.
• S5: Higher resolution and superior dynamic range capture nuanced details in shadows and highlights. Weather sealing adds confidence for fieldwork in rough conditions.

Wildlife and Sports

• E-PL2: AF and burst speed too limited for action or distant moving subjects, but lightweight body helps handheld endurance.
• S5: Comfortable frame rates, reliable tracking, and longer native ISO for low-light action shots.

Street Photography

• E-PL2: Compact size and light weight shine here. Its discreet design and quick startup favor candid shots.
• S5: Bulkier but delivers excellent image quality. Articulated screen and eye-level EVF help when shooting inconspicuously or in crowded scenes.

Macro

• E-PL2: Good with MFT macro lenses and sensor stabilization for sharp close-ups.
• S5: Superior with focus bracketing and stacking features, combined with stabilized full-frame sensor for ultimate precision.

Night and Astro

• E-PL2: Limited by higher noise at ISO 6400 max native and lower dynamic range.
• S5: Impressive high ISO capability (up to 51200 native, expandable), plus long exposure support, making it ideal for night sky photography.

Video

• E-PL2: Basic 720p video - fine for casual clips but nothing professional.
• S5: Industry-leading 4K 60p with advanced codecs, extensive audio options, and 4K photo modes catering to hybrid shooters.

Travel Photography

• E-PL2: Ultralight body and small lenses make it convenient for travel and street.
• S5: More versatile with full-frame sensor benefits, but at expense of more bulk and weight.

Technical Details: Battery, Storage, and Connectivity

Battery life favors the Panasonic S5, rated at around 440 shots per charge versus 280 shots on the smaller Olympus. Panasonic also supports dual SD card slots, enabling backup or overflow - a must for professionals. Olympus has only a single card slot.

Wireless connectivity is another area that shows the age gap: the Panasonic S5 includes built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for image transfer and remote control. The E-PL2 lacks any wireless connectivity, relying on USB 2.0 for transfer.

Both cameras use SD/SDHC/SDXC storage formats, but the S5 handles newer faster cards to support video bitrate demands.

What’s The Value Equation?

The Olympus E-PL2, being discontinued and budget-friendly, is an excellent low-cost entry point into mirrorless photography. Its small size, decent image quality for daylight shooting, and straightforward operation appeal to beginners or casual users.

The Panasonic S5, priced near $2000 at launch, targets serious enthusiasts and professionals needing advanced image quality, reliable AF, 4K video, and environmental sealing. Its overall performance outclasses the E-PL2 decisively.

These performance and genre scores make it clear: the S5 dominates in almost every category except sheer portability.

Summing It All Up - Which Should You Choose?

Here’s my practical take:

• If budget and portability are paramount, you want a light, simple camera mainly for casual and travel/daylight use - the Olympus E-PL2 remains a surprisingly capable performer, especially paired with good MFT lenses. Great for street photographers who value discretion.

• If you demand professional-grade image quality, versatility across genres, cutting-edge video, and robust handling in adverse conditions - Panasonic S5 is a clear winner. Its full-frame sensor, stabilization, and AF system let you tackle portraiture, landscapes, wildlife, sports, macro, and video like a pro.

• For hybrid shooters mixing photo and 4K video at professional standards, S5’s advanced codec support and audio controls are indispensable. Olympus’s video offering corresponds more to snapshots and simple home movies.

Final Thoughts

The Olympus PEN E-PL2 reminds me fondly of early mirrorless charm - lightweight, accessible, and fun. Yet, technology advances make the Panasonic S5 a remarkably versatile tool empowering creative professionals with stellar image quality and modern features.

When buying your next camera, think carefully about what matters most: portability, budget, or professional performance. Choosing the right camera isn’t just about specs - it’s about how the camera inspires and supports your unique photographic vision.

Happy shooting!

If you want to dig deeper into specific shooting scenarios or see my real-world image samples and video stills, check the embedded gallery above. And if you appreciate detailed in-depth reviews like this, let me know what camera combos you want to see next.