Clicky

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic TS20

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS20 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
28
Overall
34

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic TS20 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
  • Announced September 2012
Panasonic TS20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-100mm (F3.9-5.7) lens
  • 142g - 101 x 58 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2012
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FT20
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic TS20 Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic TS20, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Waterproof by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the TS20 (16MP) is relatively comparable but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and TS20 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor measurements.

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

The E-PL5 was revealed 8 months after the TS20 and they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic TS20 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-PL5 scores against the TS20 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Panasonic TS20

 E-PL5 TS20 
RevealedSeptember 2012January 2012More modern by 8 months
Manually focus More accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic TS20 over the Olympus E-PL5

 TS20 E-PL5 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic TS20

 E-PL5 TS20 

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic TS20 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera, you will need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL5 provides outside 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 TS20 has proportions of 101mm x 58mm x 19mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") and a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic TS20 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using at that time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL5 vs the TS20.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic TS20 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL5 and TS20 is 88 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic TS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic TS20 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be hard to envision the contrast in sensor sizes merely by seeing specifications. The image here should provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL5 and TS20.

To sum up, both cameras feature the identical megapixel count albeit not the same sensor sizes. The E-PL5 uses the bigger sensor which is going to make achieving shallower depth of field simpler. The more modern E-PL5 will have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic TS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic TS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic TS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic TS20 as a Portrait photography camera
71
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
30
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
no manual mode
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL5
Street photography with Panasonic TS20
85
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
has focus by touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
lighter than others (142 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL5
Sports photography with Panasonic TS20
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
lacks phase detect autofocus
41
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
environment sealing
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300 seconds)
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic TS20 as a Travel photography camera
75
has focus by touch
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
does not have Timelapse mode
70
lighter than others (142g)
environment sealing
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
lack of Timelapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.9)
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic TS20 Landscape photography advice
74
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
does not have Timelapse mode
41
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
environment sealing
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.9)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging details
Panasonic TS20 Vlogging details
78
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have microphone port
31
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (142g)
slow max aperture (f3.9)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone support
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic TS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic TS20
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS20
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS20
Also called as - Lumix DMC-FT20
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Announced 2012-09-17 2012-01-31
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.9-5.7
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1300 secs
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 4.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 325 grams (0.72 lbs) 142 grams (0.31 lbs)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 101 x 58 x 19mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 889 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 250 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $400 $179