Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic GX850: An Expert Comparison for Mirrorless Enthusiasts

Choosing the right mirrorless camera can feel overwhelming, especially when juggling two capable models like the Olympus PEN E-PL5 and the Panasonic Lumix GX850. Both cameras hail from the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) family, sharing a common sensor size and lens ecosystem, but they diverge significantly in how they approach imaging and user experience. Having spent extensive hands-on time with each, I’ll walk you through their core strengths and weaknesses across all photography disciplines, addressing real-world considerations and technical nuances to help you zero in on the best fit for your needs.

First Impressions: Size, Handling, and Build Quality

Let’s start with the physical experience, because no matter how advanced the sensor or processor, how a camera feels in your hand impacts your shooting enjoyment dramatically.

The Olympus E-PL5 sports a classic rangefinder-style design with solid rangefinder ergonomics despite its compact footprint. It measures 111×64×38 mm and weighs 325 grams including battery, giving it a reassuring heft without being cumbersome. Its build quality feels robust for an entry-level mirrorless, with a sturdy plastic chassis and well-placed buttons that balance tactile feedback with ease of use. The camera includes sensor-based image stabilization, notable for the system’s ability to smooth out camera shake in both stills and video - a rare feature in this price segment.

Meanwhile, the Panasonic GX850 is a more compact affair at 107×65×33 mm, noticeably lighter at 269 grams, effectively emphasizing portability. It’s streamlined for selfie enthusiasts, featuring a fully articulating touchscreen that flips to face forward effortlessly, perfect for vloggers or social shooters. However, it lacks any kind of in-body stabilization, relying solely on lens stabilization if available. This means handheld shooting can be more challenging in low light without a stabilized lens.

Tactile controls differ greatly: The E-PL5 offers more dedicated dials and customizable buttons, favoring photographers who appreciate physical manipulation. The GX850 takes a more minimalist approach, favoring touchscreen interaction over button complexity, making it accessible for beginners but potentially frustrating for those who prefer quick manual adjustments.

Sensor and Image Quality: What Do You Really Gain or Lose?

Here’s the heart of any camera comparison - does the sensor deliver in practical use?

Both cameras feature a 16-megapixel Four Thirds CMOS sensor measuring 17.3 x 13 mm, wielding a 2.1x crop factor and over 220 mm² of sensor area, typical for MFT. However, their approach to image processing and sensor technology yields some differences.

The Olympus E-PL5 incorporates an anti-aliasing (AA) filter which helps combat moiré in patterns but slightly softens perceived sharpness. The Panasonic GX850 removes this filter, resulting in crisper images with better microcontrast - you’ll notice more detail in textures like foliage and fabric, assuming your lenses can resolve it. In controlled tests, the GX850 shows a marginally improved dynamic range at 13.3 EV compared to Olympus’s 12.3 EV (measured via DxOMark scores), offering better highlight retention and shadow detail, beneficial for landscape and high-contrast scenes.

Color depth also tips slightly in Panasonic’s favor - 23.2 bits over Olympus’s 22.8 bits - which translates to more nuanced color gradations and smoother tonality, especially useful when working in RAW formats during post-processing. On the flip side, the Olympus sensor fares better in low-light tests, with a higher usable ISO ceiling (approximately ISO 889 vs 586 on DxOMark’s low light ISO metric), implying cleaner images in dim conditions before noise becomes intrusive.

In real-world shooting, these differences are nuanced but present. For instance, if you often shoot landscapes or product work demanding sharp, crisp detail, Panasonic’s lack of AA filter helps. If you shoot events or portraits in less-than-ideal lighting, Olympus’s sensor noise control can be a silent ally.

Display and User Interface: Touch, Tilt, and Visibility

User interaction is critical; it frames every moment from composing shots to reviewing images.

Both the E-PL5 and GX850 feature 3-inch tilting screens, but the GX850’s display resolution (1040k dots) significantly surpasses the E-PL5’s 460k dots, making images and menus noticeably sharper and more vibrant. The GX850’s screen can flip forward 180 degrees, ideal for selfies and vlogging, while the E-PL5’s tilting screen swings upward roughly 90 degrees - useful for waist-level shooting but less flexible overall.

Touch responsiveness on both cameras is solid, but Panasonic’s interface also capitalizes on its touchscreen for menu navigation and focus selection, lightening the need for external buttons. Olympus includes touchscreen autofocus but still relies heavily on physical controls for other settings.

Neither camera includes a built-in viewfinder. Olympus sells an optional external EVF, which some photographers might find a limitation if they dislike composing with an LCD outdoors. Panasonic’s GX850 forgoes a viewfinder altogether, reinforcing its tilt-screen selfie-centric design and compactness.

Autofocus Systems: Fast, Accurate, and Flexible?

Autofocus performance is one of my top evaluation criteria, especially for genres where speed and accuracy matter.

Both cameras rely on contrast-detection AF - there’s no phase-detect AF on either despite Panasonic branding “Depth from Defocus” tech in other models. The GX850 has an edge with 49 focus points against Olympus’s 35, giving a slightly finer AF coverage grid.

Olympus E PL5 front Olympus E PL5 screen back Panasonic GX850 front Panasonic GX850 screen back

This translates into scenarios like portrait eye detection and tracking autofocus where the GX850 can maintain sharp focus a bit more reliably across more expansive frame areas. It also supports focus bracketing, focus stacking, and post-focus shooting - features Olympus lacks - which makes it more versatile for macro and still life photography that demands extreme precision.

In continuous AF and tracking during burst shooting, both perform adequately but are not speed demons by modern standards. Olympus’s continuous shutter tops out at 8 fps, Panasonic’s at 10 fps, so Panasonic can eke out more frames to catch split-second action.

Still, I found neither better suited for demanding wildlife or fast-paced sports photography - they’re best for more deliberate shooting.

Image Stabilization: Olympus Takes the Prize Here

Stabilization can be a game-changer, particularly for handheld shooting and video.

Olympus’s in-body image stabilization (IBIS) is sensor-shift based and proven to deliver 4-5 stops of shake reduction with compatible lenses. This is super helpful for low-light stills, macro close-ups, and smooth video capture.

The Panasonic GX850 lacks IBIS entirely and depends on optical stabilization in lenses, which many affordable MFT prime and zoom lenses don’t include. For users without stabilized lenses, this limits handheld flexibility.

Video Capabilities: 4K vs Full HD - A Decade Apart in Technology

Video has become essential even for stills photographers.

Returning to specs, the GX850 supports 4K UHD video recording at 30fps and 24fps with a respectable bitrate of 100 Mbps, using MP4 format with H.264 codec, plus 1080p up to 60fps. Olympus’s E-PL5 is capped at 1080p 30fps with MPEG-4 and Motion JPEG recording, no 4K support at all.

This difference is critical if you want current video capabilities. Although neither camera offers mic or headphone ports (limiting audio control), Panasonic’s 4K photo mode is a nifty party trick allowing you to extract 8MP stills from 4K video, useful for spontaneous wildlife or sports shots.

Neither camera boasts in-body stabilization for video, so Olympus’s sensor-shift IBIS combined with optical lens stabilization makes its handheld video footage noticeably smoother despite lower resolution.

Battery Life and Storage: What Endures on Road or Studio?

Practicality matters - how long your camera works between charges and accommodates your workflow.

Battery life favors the Olympus E-PL5 with up to approximately 360 shots per charge against Panasonic’s 210 shots. The E-PL5 uses the BLS-5 battery, which is widely available and affordable. The Panasonic relies on an unspecified battery pack; its shorter battery endurance is typical for smaller mirrorless models with higher-res displays.

In storage, Olympus uses conventional SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, while Panasonic opts for microSD/SDHC/SDXC - a key practical difference. MicroSD cards are smaller but often slower or more expensive at higher capacities. This could influence your shooting endurance and buffer clearing when shooting bursts or 4K video.

Lens Ecosystem: Shared Advantages and Unique Considerations

Both cameras use the Micro Four Thirds lens mount, sharing access to over 100 native autofocus lenses from multiples brands, plus third-party options. This ecosystem is arguably the most mature in mirrorless systems.

Olympus lenses are renowned for sharpness, build quality, and often include high-grade telephoto and macro primes - a boon for wildlife and macro photographers. Panasonic’s lenses lean slightly towards compact primes and zooms optimized for video and travel.

If you already own MFT lenses, either camera fits seamlessly. If you’re starting afresh, consider which manufacturer’s lens lineup aligns with your shooting interests.

Specialized Use Cases: How Do These Cameras Hold Up?

Let’s drill down into specific photography genres with an eye toward practical suitability.

Portraiture: Skin Tones, Bokeh, and Eye Detection

The GX850’s more accurate and abundant AF points with face detection and higher resolution touchscreen assist in composing precise portraits, especially with the flip screen aiding framing.

Olympus's IBIS offers cleaner shots with slower shutter speeds, and its lens options include some beautiful fast primes capable of creamy MFT bokeh. However, the AA filter may slightly soften perceived sharpness.

If you prioritize crispness and quick autofocus on faces, Panasonic edges out. For richer colors and stabilization helping lower noise at wide apertures, Olympus is compelling.

Landscape: Dynamic Range and Weather Sealing

Neither camera is weather sealed, limiting rugged outdoor use. But Panasonic’s better dynamic range (13.3 EV) means more retained detail in skies and shadows, critical for landscapes.

The higher resolution screen and more aspect ratios (including 1:1 and 16:9) on GX850 help creative compositions.

If you trek in adverse conditions, neither suffices alone; consider protective gear.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus Speed and Burst Rates

Both cameras’ contrast detection AF systems and burst rates (8 fps Olympus, 10 fps Panasonic) pose constraints for fast-moving subjects.

Panasonic’s advantage in AF points and burst speeds makes it a marginally better choice for casual sports and wildlife.

Street Photography: Discretion and Portability

The GX850’s smaller footprint, lighter weight, silent shutter (electronic shutter up to 1/16000s), and tilt screen make it ideal for candid shots and street use.

Olympus’s IBIS and slightly bigger body offer more stability but are less discreet.

Macro: Magnification and Focus Precision

Panasonic’s focus stacking and bracketing features are decisive advantages for macro shooters striving for critical sharpness across depth of field.

Olympus’s IBIS complements handheld macro shots, but the lack of stacking limits technical versatility.

Night and Astro: High ISO and Exposure Modes

Olympus wins in low-light ISO performance, which aids star and night sky photography.

Panasonic lacks extended ISO performance but benefits from 4K capture for timelapses and video timelapse features.

Video and Vlogging

GX850 is the better video performer with its 4K capabilities and selfie-optimized screen.

While E-PL5 stabilizes handheld video better, its lack of 4K is a limitation for modern videographers.

Travel and Everyday Versatility

GX850’s compactness and selfie screen suit travel photographers who value portability and social media sharing.

E-PL5 offers better battery life and stabilization, important for extended shooting days in diverse conditions.

Professional Workflows

Both support RAW and have USB and HDMI outputs; however, neither excels in ruggedness or workflow integration as professional APS-C or full-frame cameras do.

Summarizing Strengths and Weaknesses

Who Should Buy Which Camera?

If you prefer a budget-friendly camera with classic ergonomics that punches above its weight for handheld stability, low-light imaging, and a traditional shooting experience, the Olympus E-PL5 remains a solid choice even years later. Its more substantial battery life and IBIS are hard to overlook, especially for portrait, night, macro, and still photography.

On the other hand, if you want a camera optimized for quick autofocus, greater burst speed, sharpness that benefits still life and landscapes, plus modern 4K video capabilities and a selfie-friendly screen, the Panasonic GX850 is the more contemporary option. It suits vloggers, street photographers, and anyone prioritizing portability or social media-friendly features.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Both cameras shine where you’d expect from their release eras - Olympus E-PL5 represents mature, stable technology emphasizing stability and traditional controls, while Panasonic GX850 introduces forward-looking features like 4K and advanced AF functions packed in a mirco form factor.

If ultimate image quality and modern video abilities are your priority, and you don’t mind sacrificing IBIS or battery endurance, Panasonic’s offering is the better pick. If resilience, longer shooting time, and handheld versatility weigh more, Olympus holds its ground well.

Whatever you choose, the shared Micro Four Thirds system ensures access to plentiful lenses, reliable performance, and a path to grow your photography skills. Happy shooting!

If you’re interested, I’ve tested both extensively and shared detailed sample galleries and workflow tips in my associated video review - definitely worth a look if you want to see these cameras in action!

Feel free to reach out with your specific shooting needs - I’m happy to help advise further.