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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic S1R

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R front
Portability
54
Imaging
79
Features
84
Overall
81

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic S1R 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
  • Revealed September 2012
Panasonic S1R
(Full Review)
  • 47MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Push to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 1020g - 149 x 110 x 97mm
  • Announced February 2019
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic S1R Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Olympus E-PL5 versus Panasonic S1R, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL5 (16MP) and S1R (47MP) and the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and S1R (Full frame) provide different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL5 was introduced 7 years prior to the S1R which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S1R being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the E-PL5 matches up against the S1R in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Panasonic S1R

 E-PL5 S1R 
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic S1R over the Olympus E-PL5

 S1R E-PL5 
AnnouncedFebruary 2019September 2012More modern by 77 months
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution2100k460kClearer screen (+1640k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic S1R

 E-PL5 S1R 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic S1R Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL5 has got outside 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) whilst the Panasonic S1R has specifications of 149mm x 110mm x 97mm (5.9" x 4.3" x 3.8") having a weight of 1020 grams (2.25 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL5 versus Panasonic S1R in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have attached during that time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the E-PL5 vs the S1R.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic S1R size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL5 and S1R is 88 and 54 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic S1R top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic S1R Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizes just by looking through specs. The pic here might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL5 and S1R.

All in all, the 2 cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PL5 with its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Panasonic S1R will result in greater detail using its extra 31MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-PL5 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic S1R sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic S1R Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic S1R Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic S1R Portrait photography factors
71
focusing manually
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
87
you can focus manually
high flash sync (1/320 seconds)
MP count fantastic (47MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography highlights
Panasonic S1R Street photography highlights
85
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
provides focus by touch
good high ISO (25,600)
71
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW files
has touch to focus
environment sealing
above average high ISO (25,600)
heavier than others (1,020 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL5
Sports photography with Panasonic S1R
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect autofocus
78
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count fantastic (47MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
has tracking autofocus
environment sealing
terrible battery (360 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography advice
Panasonic S1R Travel photography advice
75
provides focus by touch
MP count decent (16MP)
selfie friendly screen
lack of Time Lapse function
60
environment sealing
has bluetooth
has touch to focus
MP count fantastic (47MP)
terrible battery (360 per charge)
heavier than others (1,020 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic S1R as a Landscape photography camera
74
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
lack of Time Lapse function
82
you can focus manually
change lenses (Leica L mount)
screen size is decent (3.2 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count fantastic (47MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
no anti-alias filter
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
two card slots
terrible battery (360 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic S1R Vlogging highlights
78
selfie friendly screen
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lack of external mic jack
32
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
has external mic socket
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
heavier than others (1,020 grams)
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic S1R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic S1R
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-09-17 2019-02-01
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 36 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 864.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 47 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 8000 x 6000
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Highest boosted ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Lowest boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 35 225
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Leica L
Amount of lenses 107 30
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3.2"
Screen resolution 460k dots 2,100k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 5,760k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Maximum silent shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames per second 9.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync w/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/320 seconds
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) 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes (can be charged with high-power laptop/tablet chargers or portable power banks)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325 gr (0.72 lb) 1020 gr (2.25 lb)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 149 x 110 x 97mm (5.9" x 4.3" x 3.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 100
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 26.4
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 14.1
DXO Low light score 889 3525
Other
Battery life 360 shots 360 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Card slots 1 2
Launch cost $400 $3,698