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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS5

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS5 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
  • Revealed February 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL3
Panasonic ZS5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 214g - 103 x 60 x 32mm
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ8
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS5 Overview

In this article, we will be looking at the Olympus E-PL2 versus Panasonic ZS5, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the ZS5 (12MP) is relatively comparable but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and ZS5 (1/2.3") come with different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL2 was launched 8 months after the ZS5 and they are of a similar age. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS5 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a short overview of how the E-PL2 scores against the ZS5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Panasonic ZS5

 E-PL2 ZS5 
IntroducedFebruary 2011June 2010Newer by 8 months
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Olympus E-PL2

 ZS5 E-PL2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic ZS5

 E-PL2 ZS5 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS5 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL2 enjoys external measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS5 has sizing of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL2 versus Panasonic ZS5 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use during that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PL2 compared to the ZS5.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS5 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL2 and ZS5 is 85 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS5 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions purely by checking out a spec sheet. The image here may provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL2 and ZS5.

Clearly, both of those cameras offer the same exact megapixel count albeit different sensor dimensions. The E-PL2 has the bigger sensor which should make obtaining shallow depth of field easier. The more recent E-PL2 provides an advantage in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography info
Panasonic ZS5 Portrait photography info
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
27
provides face detection focus
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography details
Panasonic ZS5 Street photography details
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
fixed screen
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (214g)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography factors
Panasonic ZS5 Sports photography factors
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
max fps low (3.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12MP)
terrible battery life (280 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
31
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300 seconds)
slow frames per second (2.0 fps)
low resolution (12MP)
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 information
Panasonic ZS5 Travel photography information
51
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
terrible battery life (280 shots)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
63
lighter than others (214 grams)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long reach (300mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
low resolution (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography features
Panasonic ZS5 Landscape photography features
61
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (280 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
33
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging factors
Panasonic ZS5 Vlogging factors
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
does not have a selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone socket
31
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
lighter than others (214 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone port
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic ZS5
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ8
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-02-11 2010-06-16
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V Venus Engine HD II
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 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1300 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 5.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video 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 gr (0.80 lbs) 214 gr (0.47 lbs)
Dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $0 $300