Clicky

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic GH2

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 front
Portability
70
Imaging
51
Features
65
Overall
56

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic GH2 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 GH2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 442g - 124 x 90 x 76mm
  • Launched March 2011
  • Older Model is Panasonic GH1
  • Updated by Panasonic GH3
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic GH2 Overview

Here, we will be matching up the Olympus E-PL5 versus Panasonic GH2, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the GH2 (16MP) is pretty close and both cameras boast the identical sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The E-PL5 was revealed 19 months later than the GH2 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple summation of how the E-PL5 grades against the GH2 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Panasonic GH2

 E-PL5 GH2 
LaunchedSeptember 2012March 2011Fresher by 19 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH2 over the Olympus E-PL5

 GH2 E-PL5 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic GH2

 E-PL5 GH2 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Screen resolution460k460kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic GH2 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL5 comes with physical measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Panasonic GH2 has proportions of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") and a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL5 versus Panasonic GH2 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PL5 and the GH2.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic GH2 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL5 and GH2 is 88 and 70 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic GH2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic GH2 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing only by looking through specifications. The graphic underneath should offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL5 and GH2.

Plainly, the 2 cameras feature the identical sensor size and the exact same MP and you should expect comparable quality of images although you need to take the production date of the cameras into account. The newer E-PL5 is going to have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic GH2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic GH2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic GH2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography features
Panasonic GH2 Portrait photography features
71
focusing manually
decent MP (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
70
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL5
Street photography with Panasonic GH2
85
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
comes with focus via touch
good ISO range (25,600)
68
screen articulates fully
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography information
Panasonic GH2 Sports photography information
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
has no phase detect autofocus
46
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low battery pack (330 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL5
Travel photography with Panasonic GH2
75
comes with focus via touch
decent MP (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
does not have Time Lapse mode
62
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
no Timelapse mode
low battery pack (330 shots)
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic GH2 Landscape photography highlights
74
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
60
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
low battery pack (330 CIPA)
no Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging information
Panasonic GH2 Vlogging information
78
selfie friendly display
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have mic jack
71
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen enabled
has face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external microphone support
does not have image stabilization
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic GH2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic GH2
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Launched 2012-09-17 2011-03-23
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine FHD
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 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 160
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Tilting Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 15.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
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) 1920 x 1080 (24, 30, 60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325 gr (0.72 pounds) 442 gr (0.97 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 124 x 90 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 72 60
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 21.2
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 11.3
DXO Low light score 889 655
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 330 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $400 $1,000