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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony WX5

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
29
Overall
32

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony WX5 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
  • Released February 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL3
Sony WX5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.4-5.9) lens
  • 146g - 92 x 52 x 22mm
  • Announced July 2010
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony WX5 Overview

The following is a in depth analysis of the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony WX5, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the WX5 (12MP) is fairly comparable but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and WX5 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL2 was unveiled 8 months after the WX5 which means that they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony WX5 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-PL2 scores against the WX5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Sony WX5

 E-PL2 WX5 
AnnouncedFebruary 2011July 2010Newer by 8 months
Manual focus More precise focus
Display dimensions3"2.8"Larger display (+0.2")

Reasons to pick Sony WX5 over the Olympus E-PL2

 WX5 E-PL2 
Display resolution461k460kCrisper display (+1k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony WX5

 E-PL2 WX5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony WX5 Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera, you'll have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL2 offers exterior measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) while the Sony WX5 has sizing of 92mm x 52mm x 22mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.9") with a weight of 146 grams (0.32 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony WX5 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Here is a front view size comparison of the E-PL2 compared to the WX5.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony WX5 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL2 and WX5 is 85 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony WX5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony WX5 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its tough to see the difference in sensor dimensions just by going through a spec sheet. The pic below may offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL2 and WX5.

Clearly, both cameras have the same MP but not the same sensor dimensions. The E-PL2 uses the larger sensor which is going to make obtaining bokeh easier. The fresher E-PL2 will have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony WX5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony WX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony WX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL2
Portrait photography with Sony WX5
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
21
no manual focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Street photography camera
Sony WX5 as a Street photography camera
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no moving screen
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL2
Sports photography with Sony WX5
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (280 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking focus
no shutter priority
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography factors
Sony WX5 Travel photography factors
51
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
terrible battery life (280 per charge)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
58
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL2
Landscape photography with Sony WX5
61
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (280 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
37
quite wide (24mm)
nice screen size (2.8")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
manual mode not available
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL2
Vlogging with Sony WX5
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
does not have a selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone support
32
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish max aperture (f2.4)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone port
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony WX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Sony WX5
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL2 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-02-11 2010-07-08
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V Bionz
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.4-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.8 inch
Resolution of display 460k dot 461k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 5.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (50 fps), 1440 x 1080 (50, 25fps), 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 362g (0.80 pounds) 146g (0.32 pounds)
Physical dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 92 x 52 x 22mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.9")
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 -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/ SDHC/ SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $0 $250