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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ28

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 front
Portability
72
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ28 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
  • Introduced September 2012
Panasonic FZ28
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 27-486mm (F2.8-4.4) lens
  • 417g - 118 x 75 x 89mm
  • Released January 2009
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ28 Overview

Below is a complete analysis of the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic FZ28, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL5 (16MP) and FZ28 (10MP) and the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and FZ28 (1/2.3") provide different sensor size.

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The E-PL5 was released 3 years later than the FZ28 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ28 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the E-PL5 grades against the FZ28 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Panasonic FZ28

 E-PL5 FZ28 
ReleasedSeptember 2012January 2009More recent by 45 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ28 over the Olympus E-PL5

 FZ28 E-PL5 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic FZ28

 E-PL5 FZ28 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ28 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL5 features physical measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FZ28 has specifications of 118mm x 75mm x 89mm (4.6" x 3.0" x 3.5") along with a weight of 417 grams (0.92 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic FZ28 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the E-PL5 vs the FZ28.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ28 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL5 and FZ28 is 88 and 72 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ28 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ28 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to visualize the difference between sensor measurements only by looking at specs. The photograph here will help offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL5 and FZ28.

All in all, both of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL5 because of its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Olympus E-PL5 will give you more detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The younger E-PL5 should have a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ28 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ28 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ28 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL5
Portrait photography with Panasonic FZ28
71
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detect focusing
exports RAW files
35
has manual focus
supports RAW files
external flash not possible
low resolution (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography highlights
Panasonic FZ28 Street photography highlights
85
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
has focus via touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
56
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic FZ28 Sports photography highlights
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
lack of phase detect AF
33
excellent zoom range (27-486mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
low resolution (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography details
Panasonic FZ28 Travel photography details
75
has focus via touch
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
missing Timelapse function
52
flash built-in
quite wide (27mm)
very long zoom (486mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
low resolution (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL5
Landscape photography with Panasonic FZ28
74
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
missing Timelapse function
40
has manual focus
quite wide (27mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging details
Panasonic FZ28 Vlogging details
78
selfie friendly screen
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
missing microphone port
24
quite wide (27mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic support
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ28 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic FZ28
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2012-09-17 2009-01-15
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
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 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 27-486mm (18.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8-4.4
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 8.50 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Red-Eye Auto, On, Red-Eye On, Red-Eye Slow Sync, Off, Slow Sync (1&2)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 @ 30 fps, 848 x 480, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 @ 30fps, 320 x 240 @ 10fps
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG -
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325 gr (0.72 lb) 417 gr (0.92 lb)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 118 x 75 x 89mm (4.6" x 3.0" x 3.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 72 27
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 17.9
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 10.1
DXO Low light score 889 79
Other
Battery life 360 shots -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail cost $400 $599