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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic GM1

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
53
Features
60
Overall
55

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic GM1 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 GM1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 204g - 99 x 55 x 30mm
  • Launched December 2013
  • Replacement is Panasonic GM5
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic GM1 Overview

Lets look closer at the Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic GM1, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the GM1 (16MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras offer the same sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL5 was brought out 15 months before the GM1 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go into a detailed comparison, here is a short summation of how the E-PL5 scores vs the GM1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Panasonic GM1

 E-PL5 GM1 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic GM1 over the Olympus E-PL5

 GM1 E-PL5 
LaunchedDecember 2013September 2012More recent by 15 months
Screen resolution1036k460kSharper screen (+576k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic GM1

 E-PL5 GM1 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic GM1 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL5 enjoys outside dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GM1 has specifications of 99mm x 55mm x 30mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") along with a weight of 204 grams (0.45 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic GM1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are employing at that moment. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL5 against the GM1.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic GM1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL5 and GM1 is 88 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic GM1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic GM1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to envision the difference between sensor measurements purely by reading through specs. The visual underneath might give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL5 and GM1.

All in all, the two cameras provide the same sensor dimensions and the same resolution and you should expect similar quality of files however you have to factor the production date of the products into consideration. The older E-PL5 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic GM1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic GM1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic GM1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic GM1 as a Portrait photography camera
71
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
65
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography details
Panasonic GM1 Street photography details
85
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
includes touch to focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
77
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
lighter than competition (204g)
very good high ISO (25,600)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography info
Panasonic GM1 Sports photography info
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect AF
48
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
low max shutter speed (1/500 seconds)
max frames per second very slow (5.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
not so great battery power (230 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL5
Travel photography with Panasonic GM1
75
includes touch to focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
no Timelapse function
74
lighter than competition (204 grams)
boasts touch to focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
not so great battery power (230 CIPA)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL5
Landscape photography with Panasonic GM1
74
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
no Timelapse function
69
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
not so great battery power (230 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging details
Panasonic GM1 Vlogging details
78
selfie friendly screen
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
no external microphone socket
35
touch screen
features face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (204g)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
lack of microphone port
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic GM1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic GM1
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2012-09-17 2013-12-19
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-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 surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3448
Max native ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dot 1,036k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/500s
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/16000s
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 4.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250s 1/50s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 24p), 1280 x 720p (60p, 50p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 325g (0.72 lb) 204g (0.45 lb)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 99 x 55 x 30mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 72 66
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 22.3
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 11.7
DXO Low light rating 889 660
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 230 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $400 $750