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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus E-PL8

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
Portability
86
Imaging
55
Features
76
Overall
63

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus E-PL8 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Launched September 2012
Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Launched September 2016
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL7
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL9
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus E-PL8 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus E-PL8, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras and they are both built by Olympus. The resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the E-PL8 (16MP) is pretty comparable and both cameras posses the same sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL5 was launched 5 years earlier than the E-PL8 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go right into a complete comparison, here is a brief summary of how the E-PL5 scores vs the E-PL8 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Olympus E-PL8

 E-PL5 E-PL8 
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Olympus E-PL5

 E-PL8 E-PL5 
LaunchedSeptember 2016September 2012More recent by 48 months
Screen resolution1037k460kClearer screen (+577k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus E-PL8

 E-PL5 E-PL8 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus E-PL8 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL5 offers external dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL8 has dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus E-PL8 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL5 vs the E-PL8.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus E-PL8 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL5 and E-PL8 is 88 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus E-PL8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus E-PL8 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to see the gap in sensor measurements just by seeing technical specs. The visual below will offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL5 and E-PL8.

As you have seen, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the identical MP and you can expect comparable quality of pictures though you will need to factor the launch date of the cameras into account. The older E-PL5 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus E-PL8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus E-PL8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus E-PL8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-PL8 as a Portrait photography camera
71
has manual focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
supports RAW files
73
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL5
Street photography with Olympus E-PL8
85
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
has touch focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
84
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
has focus by touch
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography advice
Olympus E-PL8 Sports photography advice
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
does not have phase detect auto focus
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL5
Travel photography with Olympus E-PL8
75
has touch focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
missing Time Lapse mode
72
has focus by touch
good megapixels (16MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography details
Olympus E-PL8 Landscape photography details
74
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
missing Time Lapse mode
80
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging factors
Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging factors
78
selfie friendly screen
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
missing mic socket
36
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have mic jack
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus E-PL8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus E-PL8
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Olympus PEN E-PL8
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL5 Olympus PEN E-PL8
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2012-09-17 2016-09-19
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 200
RAW files
Lowest enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 35 81
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 8.0fps 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) no built-in flash
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
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 325 gr (0.72 lbs) 357 gr (0.79 lbs)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 889 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 350 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots One One
Price at release $400 $500