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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GM5

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 front
Portability
91
Imaging
53
Features
62
Overall
56

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GM5 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
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL3
Panasonic GM5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 211g - 99 x 60 x 36mm
  • Revealed September 2014
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GM1
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GM5 Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic GM5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a significant gap between the image resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and GM5 (16MP) but they use the same exact sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL2 was manufactured 4 years before the GM5 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going through a in-depth comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the E-PL2 grades versus the GM5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Panasonic GM5

 E-PL2 GM5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GM5 over the Olympus E-PL2

 GM5 E-PL2 
RevealedSeptember 2014February 2011More recent by 43 months
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic GM5

 E-PL2 GM5 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GM5 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera often, you need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL2 enjoys outer dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GM5 has proportions of 99mm x 60mm x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 211 grams (0.47 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic GM5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the E-PL2 against the GM5.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GM5 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL2 and GM5 is 85 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GM5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GM5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to see the difference between sensor measurements purely by looking at a spec sheet. The graphic below should give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL2 and GM5.

As you can see, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Panasonic GM5 to give you greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots far more aggressively. The older E-PL2 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GM5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GM5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GM5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic GM5 Portrait photography highlights
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
71
you can focus manually
decent MP (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography factors
Panasonic GM5 Street photography factors
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
76
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
supports focus via touch
lighter than competitors in class (211 grams)
above average ISO range (25,600)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL2
Sports photography with Panasonic GM5
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
bad battery (280 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
48
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
low max shutter speed (1/500s)
very slow continuous shooting (5.8 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low battery pack (220 per charge)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography advice
Panasonic GM5 Travel photography advice
51
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse function
bad battery (280 shots)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
71
lighter than competitors in class (211g)
supports focus via touch
decent MP (16 megapixels)
low battery pack (220 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic GM5 as a Landscape photography camera
61
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
bad battery (280 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse function
69
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
decent MP (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
low battery pack (220 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging advice
Panasonic GM5 Vlogging advice
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone port
34
screen is touchscreen
provides face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (211 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic GM5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic GM5
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2011-02-11 2014-09-15
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4592 x 3448
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW photos
Lowest enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/500 seconds
Max silent shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec 5.8 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, off
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 gr (0.80 lb) 211 gr (0.47 lb)
Dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 99 x 60 x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 66
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 22.1
DXO Dynamic range score 10.2 11.7
DXO Low light score 573 721
Other
Battery life 280 shots 220 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 DMW-BLH7
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $0 $966