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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G2

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 front
Portability
72
Imaging
47
Features
60
Overall
52

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G2 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
  • Introduced September 2012
Panasonic G2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 428g - 124 x 84 x 74mm
  • Announced July 2010
  • Old Model is Panasonic G1
  • Newer Model is Panasonic G3
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G2 Overview

Following is a extensive review of the Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G2, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a large gap between the image resolutions of the E-PL5 (16MP) and G2 (12MP) but they feature the same exact sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL5 was announced 2 years after the G2 which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic G2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving through a more detailed comparison, below is a brief view of how the E-PL5 grades against the G2 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Panasonic G2

 E-PL5 G2 
AnnouncedSeptember 2012July 2010More modern by 27 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic G2 over the Olympus E-PL5

 G2 E-PL5 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic G2

 E-PL5 G2 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Screen resolution460k460kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Both good for selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G2 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera often, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL5 has got external 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 G2 has measurements of 124mm x 84mm x 74mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 428 grams (0.94 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G2 in our brand new 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 are utilizing at that moment. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the E-PL5 and the G2.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G2 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL5 and G2 is 88 and 72 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G2 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to picture the difference between sensor sizes purely by looking at technical specs. The picture underneath will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL5 and G2.

As you can tell, both cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You can expect the Olympus E-PL5 to give more detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will let you crop shots far more aggressively. The fresher E-PL5 should have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL5
Portrait photography with Panasonic G2
71
manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focusing
saves RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography details
Panasonic G2 Street photography details
85
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
supports focus by touch
good high ISO (25,600)
65
screen articulates
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
includes focus via touch
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (428g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL5
Sports photography with Panasonic G2
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
has no phase detect AF
40
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic G2 Travel photography highlights
75
supports focus by touch
MP count decent (16MP)
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse function
58
includes focus via touch
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (428g)
low megapixels (12MP)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic G2 Landscape photography factors
74
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
lack of Time Lapse function
57
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic G2 as a Vlogging camera
78
screen is selfie friendly
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lack of external mic jack
61
selfie friendly display
touchscreen
supports face detect focusing
has microphone port
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
more heavy than competition in class (428 grams)
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic G2
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-09-17 2010-07-12
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 11.00 m
Flash modes 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 sync 1/250s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite, Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 325g (0.72 lb) 428g (0.94 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 124 x 84 x 74mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 53
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 21.2
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 10.3
DXO Low light score 889 493
Other
Battery life 360 shots 360 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $400 $1,000