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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH25

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH25 front
Portability
94
Imaging
39
Features
26
Overall
33

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH25 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
  • Announced September 2012
Panasonic FH25
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 159g - 99 x 57 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2011
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FS35
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH25 Overview

In this article, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic FH25, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the FH25 (16MP) is pretty close but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and FH25 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL5 was unveiled 21 months after the FH25 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH25 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the E-PL5 grades against the FH25 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Panasonic FH25

 E-PL5 FH25 
AnnouncedSeptember 2012January 2011More modern by 21 months
Focus manually Very precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH25 over the Olympus E-PL5

 FH25 E-PL5 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic FH25

 E-PL5 FH25 

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH25 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL5 enjoys outside dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) and the Panasonic FH25 has proportions of 99mm x 57mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic FH25 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select at that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-PL5 compared to the FH25.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH25 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL5 and FH25 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH25 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH25 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes only by looking through a spec sheet. The picture here should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL5 and FH25.

Clearly, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact resolution albeit not the same sensor sizes. The E-PL5 comes with the bigger sensor which will make achieving shallower DOF less difficult. The younger E-PL5 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH25 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH25 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH25 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic FH25 Portrait photography highlights
71
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
exports RAW files
34
good resolution (16MP)
includes face detection focusing
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FH25 as a Street photography camera
85
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
features touch focus
good ISO range (25,600)
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FH25 as a Sports photography camera
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
no phase detect auto focus
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (4.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography information
Panasonic FH25 Travel photography information
75
features touch focus
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
no Timelapse mode
65
good resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL5
Landscape photography with Panasonic FH25
74
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
no Timelapse mode
38
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging features
Panasonic FH25 Vlogging features
78
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
no external microphone jack
31
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic port
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH25 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic FH25
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH25
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH25
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-FS35
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-09-17 2011-01-05
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine VI
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-224mm (8.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology - TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 8.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 5.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 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) 1280 x 720p (24 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325g (0.72 lb) 159g (0.35 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 99 x 57 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1")
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 images 250 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $400 $180