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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FH5

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FH5 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Released February 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL3
Panasonic FH5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2011
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FS18
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FH5 Overview

The following is a detailed assessment of the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic FH5, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and FH5 (16MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and FH5 (1/2.3") posses different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL2 was unveiled 2 months after the FH5 and they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH5 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a detailed comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the E-PL2 matches up versus the FH5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Panasonic FH5

 E-PL2 FH5 
Manually focus More exact focus
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Olympus E-PL2

 FH5 E-PL2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic FH5

 E-PL2 FH5 
IntroducedFebruary 2011January 2011Same age
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FH5 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera, you will want to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL2 has external measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) while the Panasonic FH5 has specifications of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic FH5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select at that time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the E-PL2 vs the FH5.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FH5 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL2 and FH5 is 85 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FH5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FH5 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by checking out a spec sheet. The pic underneath should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL2 and FH5.

As you can see, the two cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL2 using its larger sensor is going to make getting bokeh simpler and the Panasonic FH5 will show extra detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos way more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FH5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FH5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FH5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic FH5 Portrait photography advice
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
34
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
comes with face detect focus
no manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL2
Street photography with Panasonic FH5
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
fixed screen
67
image stabilization (Optical)
includes focus via touch
lighter than competitors (121 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL2
Sports photography with Panasonic FH5
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (3.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12MP)
not so great battery pack (280 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
40
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography features
Panasonic FH5 Travel photography features
51
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (280 shots)
low resolution (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
71
lighter than competitors (121 grams)
includes focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography info
Panasonic FH5 Landscape photography info
61
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
not so great battery pack (280 shots)
lack of Time Lapse mode
38
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
no manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FH5 as a Vlogging camera
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic support
33
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
lighter than competitors (121 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone port
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FH5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic FH5
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5
Also called as - Lumix DMC-FS18
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-02-11 2011-01-05
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic V Venus Engine IV
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 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum 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), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 362 grams (0.80 pounds) 121 grams (0.27 pounds)
Physical dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 280 photographs 260 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID 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
Price at launch $0 $169