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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus PEN-F

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Olympus PEN-F front
Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus PEN-F Key Specs

Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Released September 2012
Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Launched January 2016
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus PEN-F Overview

Below is a detailed comparison of the Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus PEN-F, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless and both of them are created by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the PEN-F (20MP) is very well matched and both cameras offer the same sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL5 was unveiled 4 years before the PEN-F and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the E-PL5 grades vs the PEN-F for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Olympus PEN-F

 E-PL5 PEN-F 

Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Olympus E-PL5

 PEN-F E-PL5 
LaunchedJanuary 2016September 2012More recent by 40 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution1037k460kClearer display (+577k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus PEN-F

 E-PL5 PEN-F 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus PEN-F Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL5 provides external dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Olympus PEN-F has specifications of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") and a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus PEN-F in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using at the time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the E-PL5 vs the PEN-F.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus PEN-F size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL5 and PEN-F is 88 and 84 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus PEN-F top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus PEN-F Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is difficult to picture the contrast between sensor measurements purely by reading through technical specs. The visual below will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL5 and PEN-F.

As you can tell, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You should expect to see the Olympus PEN-F to resolve extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older E-PL5 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus PEN-F sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus PEN-F Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography features
Olympus PEN-F Portrait photography features
71
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
exports RAW files
75
focusing manually
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL5
Street photography with Olympus PEN-F
85
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
supports focus via touch
good high ISO (25,600)
84
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
includes touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL5
Sports photography with Olympus PEN-F
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect AF
67
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
not so great battery pack (330 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography highlights
Olympus PEN-F Travel photography highlights
75
supports focus via touch
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
missing Time Lapse mode
75
includes touch to focus
decent megapixels (20MP)
selfie friendly display
not so great battery pack (330 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL5
Landscape photography with Olympus PEN-F
74
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
missing Time Lapse mode
76
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
not so great battery pack (330 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging advice
Olympus PEN-F Vlogging advice
78
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
missing external mic jack
78
selfie friendly display
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have external microphone support
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus PEN-F Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus PEN-F
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Olympus PEN-F
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Olympus PEN-F
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2012-09-17 2016-01-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW images
Minimum enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 81
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.62x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Max silent shutter speed - 1/16000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain)
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325g (0.72 pounds) 427g (0.94 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 72 74
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 23.1
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 12.4
DXO Low light score 889 894
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 330 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 BLN-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $400 $1,000