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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ70

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70 front
Portability
63
Imaging
40
Features
53
Overall
45

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ70 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 FZ70
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 20-1200mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 606g - 130 x 97 x 118mm
  • Launched July 2013
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ70 Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Olympus E-PL5 versus Panasonic FZ70, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the FZ70 (16MP) is very well matched but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and FZ70 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL5 was released 10 months before the FZ70 so they are of a similar generation. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ70 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the E-PL5 matches up versus the FZ70 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Panasonic FZ70

 E-PL5 FZ70 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ70 over the Olympus E-PL5

 FZ70 E-PL5 
LaunchedJuly 2013September 2012Newer by 10 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic FZ70

 E-PL5 FZ70 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Display resolution460k460kExact same display resolution

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ70 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL5 comes with outer dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) and the Panasonic FZ70 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 118mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 4.6") and a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL5 versus Panasonic FZ70 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-PL5 and the FZ70.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ70 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL5 and FZ70 is 88 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ70 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ70 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be tough to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions simply by checking technical specs. The image underneath will give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL5 and FZ70.

As you can tell, the two cameras enjoy the same exact megapixel count but not the same sensor dimensions. The E-PL5 includes the larger sensor which will make obtaining shallow DOF easier. The more aged E-PL5 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ70 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ70 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL5
Portrait photography with Panasonic FZ70
71
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW files
56
focusing manually
decent MP (16MP)
comes with face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography factors
Panasonic FZ70 Street photography factors
85
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
boasts focus by touch
good high ISO (25,600)
49
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
heavier than others in class (606g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography advice
Panasonic FZ70 Sports photography advice
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect AF
55
long zoom range (20-1200mm 60.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
great battery (400 CIPA)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography advice
Panasonic FZ70 Travel photography advice
75
boasts focus by touch
MP count good (16 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse mode
55
great battery (400 CIPA)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (20mm)
very long zoom (1200mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than others in class (606g)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography details
Panasonic FZ70 Landscape photography details
74
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
54
focusing manually
really wide (20mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
saves RAW files
great battery (400 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging information
Panasonic FZ70 Vlogging information
78
screen is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lack of mic jack
26
really wide (20mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic jack
heavier than others in class (606g)
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FZ70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic FZ70
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-09-17 2013-07-18
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 20-1200mm (60.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - TFT Screen LCD Display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 202k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 8s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames per second 9.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 13.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250s -
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 (50i/60i, 25p/30p), 1280 x 720p (50p/60p or 25p/30p), 640 x 480 (25p/30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
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 325 gr (0.72 lb) 606 gr (1.34 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 130 x 97 x 118mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 4.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 41
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 19.4
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 10.8
DXO Low light score 889 171
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 400 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $400 $300