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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic TS5

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5 front
Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
43
Overall
41

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic TS5 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
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL3
Panasonic TS5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 214g - 110 x 67 x 29mm
  • Revealed July 2013
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FT5
  • Succeeded the Panasonic TS4
  • Renewed by Panasonic TS6
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic TS5 Overview

On this page, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic TS5, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Waterproof by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and TS5 (16MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and TS5 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL2 was introduced 3 years earlier than the TS5 and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic TS5 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick overview of how the E-PL2 grades versus the TS5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Panasonic TS5

 E-PL2 TS5 
Focus manually Very accurate focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic TS5 over the Olympus E-PL2

 TS5 E-PL2 
RevealedJuly 2013February 2011More recent by 29 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic TS5

 E-PL2 TS5 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Screen resolution460k460kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic TS5 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera, you will want to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL2 offers outside measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) whilst the Panasonic TS5 has specifications of 110mm x 67mm x 29mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic TS5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PL2 versus the TS5.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic TS5 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL2 and TS5 is 85 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic TS5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic TS5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to see the contrast between sensor measurements purely by reading through a spec sheet. The visual underneath will give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL2 and TS5.

As you can see, both of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL2 having a bigger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Panasonic TS5 will give you more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs more aggressively. The older E-PL2 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic TS5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic TS5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic TS5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic TS5 as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
32
decent MP (16MP)
no manual focus
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography factors
Panasonic TS5 Street photography factors
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen does not articulate
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography advice
Panasonic TS5 Sports photography advice
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12MP)
low battery (280 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
47
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
environment sealing
good battery pack (370 per charge)
low max shutter speed (1/1,300s)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography features
Panasonic TS5 Travel photography features
51
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
low battery (280 CIPA)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
72
good battery pack (370 CIPA)
environment sealing
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic TS5 Landscape photography highlights
61
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
low battery (280 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse mode
52
rather wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
good battery pack (370 per charge)
no manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic TS5 as a Vlogging camera
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone port
32
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic port
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic TS5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic TS5
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5
Also called as - Lumix DMC-FT5
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Released 2011-02-11 2013-07-12
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-128mm (4.6x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1300s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s -
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 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 362 grams (0.80 lbs) 214 grams (0.47 lbs)
Physical dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 110 x 67 x 29mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.1")
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 photos 370 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 DMW-BCM13
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $0 $350