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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SP-820UZ

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ front
Portability
69
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SP-820UZ 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
  • Launched September 2012
Olympus SP-820UZ
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-896mm (F3.4-5.7) lens
  • 485g - 117 x 78 x 93mm
  • Announced August 2012
  • Older Model is Olympus SP-820UZ
  • Replacement is Olympus SP-820UZ
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus E-PL5 versus Olympus SP-820UZ, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are built by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the SP-820UZ (14MP) is pretty similar but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and SP-820UZ (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL5 was unveiled at a similar time to the SP-820UZ which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SP-820UZ being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a detailed comparison, here is a short introduction of how the E-PL5 scores against the SP-820UZ in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Olympus SP-820UZ

 E-PL5 SP-820UZ 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-820UZ over the Olympus E-PL5

 SP-820UZ E-PL5 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus SP-820UZ

 E-PL5 SP-820UZ 
AnnouncedSeptember 2012August 2012Similar age
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Screen resolution460k460kSame screen resolution

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry your camera often, you should factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL5 has got outside dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) and the Olympus SP-820UZ has dimensions of 117mm x 78mm x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") and a weight of 485 grams (1.07 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL5 versus Olympus SP-820UZ in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL5 and the SP-820UZ.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SP-820UZ size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL5 and SP-820UZ is 88 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SP-820UZ top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very difficult to see the difference between sensor sizing just by reading specifications. The visual here will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL5 and SP-820UZ.

To sum up, both of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PL5 having a bigger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Olympus E-PL5 will offer extra detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SP-820UZ sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL5
Portrait photography with Olympus SP-820UZ
71
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
saves RAW formats
34
decent MP (14 megapixels)
supports face detection focus
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL5
Street photography with Olympus SP-820UZ
85
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
37
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
heavier than competition in class (485 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography advice
Olympus SP-820UZ Sports photography advice
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
has no phase detect auto focus
33
great zoom range (22-896mm 40.7 x zoom)
decent MP (14MP)
low frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL5
Travel photography with Olympus SP-820UZ
75
boasts touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse mode
55
decent MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (22mm)
very long zoom (896mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition in class (485 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography factors
Olympus SP-820UZ Landscape photography factors
74
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
does not have Timelapse mode
35
rather wide (22mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
decent MP (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
lack of manual mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging details
Olympus SP-820UZ Vlogging details
78
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have external microphone port
25
rather wide (22mm)
supports face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
missing external mic jack
heavier than competition in class (485g)
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus SP-820UZ
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-09-17 2012-08-21
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 35 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 22-896mm (40.7x)
Max aperture - f/3.4-5.7
Macro focus range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 15.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 secs -
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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 180 (30, 240 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325g (0.72 lb) 485g (1.07 lb)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 117 x 78 x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 889 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 shots -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $400 $299