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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic F5

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5 front
Portability
96
Imaging
38
Features
23
Overall
32

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic F5 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
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL3
Panasonic F5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.2-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 97 x 58 x 22mm
  • Introduced January 2013
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic F5 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic F5, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the F5 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and F5 (1/2.3") posses different sensor size.

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The E-PL2 was manufactured 23 months prior to the F5 making them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic F5 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a detailed comparison, here is a short introduction of how the E-PL2 scores against the F5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Panasonic F5

 E-PL2 F5 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic F5 over the Olympus E-PL2

 F5 E-PL2 
IntroducedJanuary 2013February 2011Fresher by 23 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic F5

 E-PL2 F5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic F5 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera, you will want to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL2 provides exterior measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) and the Panasonic F5 has sizing of 97mm x 58mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") along with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic F5 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PL2 and the F5.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic F5 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL2 and F5 is 85 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic F5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic F5 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizing just by reading through technical specs. The photograph here might provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL2 and F5.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PL2 featuring a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Panasonic F5 will give greater detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics way more aggressively. The older E-PL2 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic F5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic F5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic F5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic F5 as a Portrait photography camera
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
saves RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
29
good MP (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography information
Panasonic F5 Street photography information
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no moving screen
56
lighter than others in class (121 grams)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL2
Sports photography with Panasonic F5
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
bad battery (280 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
33
good MP (14 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography info
Panasonic F5 Travel photography info
51
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
bad battery (280 shots)
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
68
lighter than others in class (121g)
good MP (14MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
no Timelapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography details
Panasonic F5 Landscape photography details
61
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
bad battery (280 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
33
relatively wide (28mm)
good MP (14MP)
no manual focus
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic F5 as a Vlogging camera
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone port
28
relatively wide (28mm)
lighter than others in class (121 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
does not feature selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone jack
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic F5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic F5
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-02-11 2013-01-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V -
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 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.2-6.5
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m 5.70 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 362 gr (0.80 lbs) 121 gr (0.27 lbs)
Physical dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 97 x 58 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 280 shots 250 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $0 $100