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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ2500

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500 front
Portability
53
Imaging
53
Features
81
Overall
64

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ2500 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
  • Launched September 2012
Panasonic FZ2500
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • 24-480mm (F2.8-4.5) lens
  • 915g - 138 x 102 x 135mm
  • Launched September 2016
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-FZ2000
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic FZ1000
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ2500 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ2500, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Large Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the FZ2500 (20MP) is pretty similar but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and FZ2500 (1") posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL5 was launched 5 years earlier than the FZ2500 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ2500 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short view of how the E-PL5 grades vs the FZ2500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Panasonic FZ2500

 E-PL5 FZ2500 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ2500 over the Olympus E-PL5

 FZ2500 E-PL5 
LaunchedSeptember 2016September 2012More recent by 48 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1040k460kCrisper screen (+580k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic FZ2500

 E-PL5 FZ2500 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ2500 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera regularly, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL5 features physical 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) and the Panasonic FZ2500 has proportions of 138mm x 102mm x 135mm (5.4" x 4.0" x 5.3") along with a weight of 915 grams (2.02 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ2500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you select at that moment. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-PL5 versus the FZ2500.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ2500 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL5 and FZ2500 is 88 and 53 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ2500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ2500 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to see the difference between sensor measurements only by going over technical specs. The photograph below will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL5 and FZ2500.

As you have seen, both of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL5 due to its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Panasonic FZ2500 will offer you greater detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs more aggressively. The older E-PL5 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ2500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ2500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ2500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic FZ2500 Portrait photography highlights
71
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
71
has manual focus
decent MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
has face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL5
Street photography with Panasonic FZ2500
85
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
offers touch to focus
good high ISO (25,600)
70
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW files
provides focus via touch
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FZ2500 as a Sports photography camera
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect autofocus
69
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
has tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography factors
Panasonic FZ2500 Travel photography factors
75
offers touch to focus
good resolution (16 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
no Time Lapse function
66
provides focus via touch
decent MP (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
really wide (24mm)
long zoom (480mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography info
Panasonic FZ2500 Landscape photography info
74
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
no Time Lapse function
65
has manual focus
really wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging information
Panasonic FZ2500 Vlogging information
78
display is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
no external mic jack
66
really wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
video res high (4096 x 2160 resolution)
does have external mic socket
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ2500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic FZ2500
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-FZ2000
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-09-17 2016-09-19
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by - Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 125
RAW format
Minimum boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 49
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8-4.5
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 2.7
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 13.20 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings 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/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 4096 x 2060 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 4096x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
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 grams (0.72 pounds) 915 grams (2.02 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 138 x 102 x 135mm (5.4" x 4.0" x 5.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 70
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 12.6
DXO Low light score 889 538
Other
Battery life 360 shots 350 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 DMW-BLC12
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 shots @ 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $400 $998