Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G2

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.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN E-PL5 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-PL5 Gallery & Panasonic G2 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.