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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH27

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH27 front
Portability
94
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH27 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
  • Announced September 2012
Panasonic FH27
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 152g - 99 x 57 x 28mm
  • Released January 2011
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH27 Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic FH27, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the FH27 (16MP) is pretty close but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and FH27 (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL5 was announced 21 months after the FH27 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH27 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a full comparison, below is a simple summation of how the E-PL5 scores vs the FH27 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Panasonic FH27

 E-PL5 FH27 
ReleasedSeptember 2012January 2011Newer by 21 months
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH27 over the Olympus E-PL5

 FH27 E-PL5 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic FH27

 E-PL5 FH27 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH27 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL5 has got outer measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Panasonic FH27 has sizing of 99mm x 57mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") with a weight of 152 grams (0.34 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic FH27 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the E-PL5 and the FH27.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH27 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL5 and FH27 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH27 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH27 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to picture the difference in sensor dimensions merely by viewing specifications. The image here might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL5 and FH27.

To sum up, both of those cameras posses the exact same MP albeit different sensor dimensions. The E-PL5 provides the bigger sensor which will make getting bokeh simpler. The fresher E-PL5 provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH27 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH27 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH27 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FH27 as a Portrait photography camera
71
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
34
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
comes with face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL5
Street photography with Panasonic FH27
85
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
provides touch to focus
good high ISO (25,600)
63
image stabilization (Optical)
includes touch focus
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL5
Sports photography with Panasonic FH27
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
no phase detect AF
40
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography info
Panasonic FH27 Travel photography info
75
provides touch to focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
no Time Lapse recording
68
includes touch focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography information
Panasonic FH27 Landscape photography information
74
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
no Time Lapse recording
43
pretty wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual control
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic FH27 Vlogging highlights
78
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
no mic jack
32
pretty wide (28mm)
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone support
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH27 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic FH27
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH27
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH27
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-09-17 2011-01-05
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Venus Engine VI
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-224mm (8.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT Touch Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 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
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 325 grams (0.72 lbs) 152 grams (0.34 lbs)
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 All around rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 889 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 images 250 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $400 $229