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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus VG-145

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Olympus VG-145 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus VG-145 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
  • Released September 2012
Olympus VG-145
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 120g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Launched July 2011
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus VG-145 Overview

Below, we are reviewing the Olympus E-PL5 versus Olympus VG-145, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Ultracompact and they are both manufactured by Olympus. The resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the VG-145 (14MP) is very close but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and VG-145 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL5 was manufactured 14 months later than the VG-145 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus VG-145 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving straight into a in depth comparison, below is a brief summation of how the E-PL5 scores against the VG-145 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Olympus VG-145

 E-PL5 VG-145 
LaunchedSeptember 2012July 2011More recent by 14 months
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-145 over the Olympus E-PL5

 VG-145 E-PL5 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus VG-145

 E-PL5 VG-145 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus VG-145 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera often, you'll need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL5 offers outside dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) whilst the Olympus VG-145 has proportions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL5 versus Olympus VG-145 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at that moment. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PL5 against the VG-145.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus VG-145 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL5 and VG-145 is 88 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus VG-145 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus VG-145 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to see the gap in sensor measurements purely by viewing a spec sheet. The visual below might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL5 and VG-145.

Clearly, both of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL5 because of its larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Olympus E-PL5 will result in extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images much more aggressively. The younger E-PL5 is going to have an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus VG-145 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus VG-145 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus VG-145 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography factors
Olympus VG-145 Portrait photography factors
71
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
33
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography info
Olympus VG-145 Street photography info
85
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
supports touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
48
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography highlights
Olympus VG-145 Sports photography highlights
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
lacks phase detect autofocus
26
good resolution (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (160 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography info
Olympus VG-145 Travel photography info
75
supports touch focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse function
62
good resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (26mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
not so great battery life (160 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography details
Olympus VG-145 Landscape photography details
74
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
36
quite wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
good resolution (14MP)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual mode
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
not so great battery life (160 shots)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging details
Olympus VG-145 Vlogging details
78
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lack of mic support
28
quite wide (26mm)
has face detection autofocus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus VG-145 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus VG-145
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Olympus VG-145
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Olympus VG-145
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Released 2012-09-17 2011-07-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by - TruePic III
Sensor type CMOS CCD
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 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 25600 1600
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 35 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-130mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-6.5
Macro focus range - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 8.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 4.40 m
Flash settings 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
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325 gr (0.72 lb) 120 gr (0.26 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photos 160 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 LI-70B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Price at release $400 $0