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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G85

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 front
Portability
69
Imaging
54
Features
84
Overall
66

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G85 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
  • Launched September 2012
Panasonic G85
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 505g - 128 x 89 x 74mm
  • Released September 2016
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-G80
  • Replacement is Panasonic G95
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G85 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus E-PL5 versus Panasonic G85, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the G85 (16MP) is relatively similar and both cameras posses the same sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL5 was revealed 5 years before the G85 and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic G85 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a full comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the E-PL5 matches up vs the G85 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Panasonic G85

 E-PL5 G85 

Reasons to pick Panasonic G85 over the Olympus E-PL5

 G85 E-PL5 
ReleasedSeptember 2016September 2012More recent by 48 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1040k460kCrisper screen (+580k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic G85

 E-PL5 G85 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Both good for selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G85 Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL5 has got exterior measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) whilst the Panasonic G85 has dimensions of 128mm x 89mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 505 grams (1.11 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL5 versus Panasonic G85 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Here is a front view size comparison of the E-PL5 versus the G85.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G85 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL5 and G85 is 88 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G85 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G85 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be tough to envision the contrast between sensor measurements only by reviewing technical specs. The visual below may give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL5 and G85.

As you can tell, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the exact same megapixels therefore you should expect similar quality of files although you need to take the production date of the products into consideration. The older E-PL5 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G85 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G85 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G85 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic G85 as a Portrait photography camera
71
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
72
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic G85 as a Street photography camera
85
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
includes touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
77
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
supports focus via touch
environment sealing
very good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography factors
Panasonic G85 Sports photography factors
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
no phase detect AF
64
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
environment sealing
bad battery power (330 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography features
Panasonic G85 Travel photography features
75
includes touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Timelapse mode
71
environment sealing
supports focus via touch
good megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
bad battery power (330 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL5
Landscape photography with Panasonic G85
74
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
doesn't have Timelapse mode
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
does not have anti aliasing filter
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
bad battery power (330 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL5
Vlogging with Panasonic G85
78
selfie friendly display
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have microphone support
78
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
comes with microphone port
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic G85 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic G85
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85
Also called - Lumix DMC-G80
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Launched 2012-09-17 2016-09-19
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
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 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3448
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW format
Min boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 35 49
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dot 1,040k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/16000s
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames/s 9.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 6.20 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 325g (0.72 pounds) 505g (1.11 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 128 x 89 x 74mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 72 71
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 12.5
DXO Low light rating 889 656
Other
Battery life 360 shots 330 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 10 secs x 3 shots)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $400 $900