Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS

Below, we are looking at the Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are produced by Olympus. There exists a sizeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL5 (16MP) and XZ-2 iHS (12MP) and the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and XZ-2 iHS (1/1.7") use different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL5 was launched 3 months earlier than the XZ-2 iHS which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus XZ-2 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a in depth comparison, below is a quick summary of how the E-PL5 matches up versus the XZ-2 iHS when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PL5 and Olympus XZ-2 iHS. The complete galleries are available at Olympus E-PL5 Gallery and Olympus XZ-2 iHS Gallery.

When you are planning to carry your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL5 features external measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Olympus XZ-2 iHS has measurements of 113mm x 65mm x 48mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 346 grams (0.76 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus XZ-2 iHS in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Following is the front view size comparison of the E-PL5 versus the XZ-2 iHS.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL5 and XZ-2 iHS is 88 and 85 respectively.

Normally, it can be difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizing just by reading through technical specs. The photograph underneath will give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL5 and XZ-2 iHS.

As you have seen, both of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL5 due to its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Olympus E-PL5 will resolve more detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos much more aggressively.