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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ47

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47 front
Portability
68
Imaging
36
Features
45
Overall
39

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ47 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
  • Revealed September 2012
Panasonic FZ47
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 498g - 120 x 80 x 92mm
  • Introduced July 2011
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FZ48
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ47 Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ47, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference among the resolutions of the E-PL5 (16MP) and FZ47 (12MP) and the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and FZ47 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL5 was released 15 months later than the FZ47 which makes them a generation apart from each other. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ47 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting into a full comparison, here is a short summary of how the E-PL5 matches up vs the FZ47 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Panasonic FZ47

 E-PL5 FZ47 
IntroducedSeptember 2012July 2011Fresher by 15 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ47 over the Olympus E-PL5

 FZ47 E-PL5 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic FZ47

 E-PL5 FZ47 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Screen resolution460k460kThe same screen resolution

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ47 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry your camera, you will need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL5 features exterior 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 FZ47 has dimensions of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") and a weight of 498 grams (1.10 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ47 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the E-PL5 and the FZ47.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ47 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL5 and FZ47 is 88 and 68 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ47 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ47 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its difficult to visualise the difference in sensor sizing merely by seeing technical specs. The visual below will help offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL5 and FZ47.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PL5 because of its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Olympus E-PL5 will provide greater detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The younger E-PL5 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ47 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ47 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ47 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography details
Panasonic FZ47 Portrait photography details
71
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
saves RAW formats
38
focusing manually
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
has face detect focusing
external flash not possible
low resolution (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography features
Panasonic FZ47 Street photography features
85
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
provides focus by touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
43
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
more heavy than others in class (498 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography details
Panasonic FZ47 Sports photography details
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
no phase detect auto focus
43
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking focus
better than average battery (400 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic FZ47 Travel photography highlights
75
provides focus by touch
megapixel count decent (16MP)
selfie friendly screen
no Timelapse mode
52
better than average battery (400 per charge)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
does not have Timelapse function
more heavy than others in class (498g)
low resolution (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FZ47 as a Landscape photography camera
74
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
no Timelapse mode
43
focusing manually
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
better than average battery (400 CIPA)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
does not have Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FZ47 as a Vlogging camera
78
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
no microphone port
27
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have microphone support
more heavy than others in class (498g)
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ47 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic FZ47
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-FZ48
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2012-09-17 2011-07-21
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 25600 1600
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.2
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 9.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/2000 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) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD
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 325g (0.72 pounds) 498g (1.10 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6")
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 400 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures))
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $400 $379