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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic G5

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 front
Portability
74
Imaging
52
Features
66
Overall
57

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic G5 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
  • Announced February 2011
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL3
Panasonic G5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 396g - 120 x 83 x 71mm
  • Released July 2012
  • Older Model is Panasonic G3
  • Refreshed by Panasonic G6
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic G5 Overview

Lets look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic G5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and G5 (16MP) but they possess the same exact sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL2 was released 17 months before the G5 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic G5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief overview of how the E-PL2 grades vs the G5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Panasonic G5

 E-PL2 G5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic G5 over the Olympus E-PL2

 G5 E-PL2 
ReleasedJuly 2012February 2011Fresher by 17 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution920k460kClearer display (+460k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic G5

 E-PL2 G5 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic G5 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL2 provides outside dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) while the Panasonic G5 has proportions of 120mm x 83mm x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") having a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic G5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Below is the front view scale comparison of the E-PL2 compared to the G5.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic G5 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL2 and G5 is 85 and 74 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic G5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic G5 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to see the gap in sensor sizing simply by researching specifications. The photograph underneath will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL2 and G5.

To sum up, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Panasonic G5 to result in more detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics far more aggressively. The older E-PL2 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic G5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic G5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic G5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic G5 Portrait photography highlights
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
71
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL2
Street photography with Panasonic G5
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
66
screen can move to multiple angles
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
has focus via touch
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition (396g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic G5 as a Sports photography camera
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
MP count low (12MP)
low battery life (280 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
51
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
low fps (6.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography features
Panasonic G5 Travel photography features
51
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
low battery life (280 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
66
has focus via touch
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
no Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition (396 grams)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic G5 as a Landscape photography camera
61
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
low battery life (280 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
65
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL2
Vlogging with Panasonic G5
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic socket
62
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen capability
provides face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lack of image stabilization
no external microphone support
more heavy than competition (396 grams)
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic G5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic G5
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2011-02-11 2012-07-17
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V Venus Engine VII FHD
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 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 160
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m 10.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25fps
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 362 grams (0.80 lbs) 396 grams (0.87 lbs)
Dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 120 x 83 x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 61
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 21.4
DXO Dynamic range score 10.2 11.6
DXO Low light score 573 618
Other
Battery life 280 pictures 320 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $0 $699