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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic TS4

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
33
Overall
34

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic TS4 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Introduced September 2012
Panasonic TS4
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 197g - 103 x 64 x 27mm
  • Launched January 2012
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FT4
  • Superseded the Panasonic TS3
  • Newer Model is Panasonic TS5
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic TS4 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus E-PL5 versus Panasonic TS4, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Waterproof by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a big difference between the image resolutions of the E-PL5 (16MP) and TS4 (12MP) and the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and TS4 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL5 was brought out 8 months after the TS4 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic TS4 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the E-PL5 grades versus the TS4 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Panasonic TS4

 E-PL5 TS4 
LaunchedSeptember 2012January 2012Newer by 8 months
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic TS4 over the Olympus E-PL5

 TS4 E-PL5 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic TS4

 E-PL5 TS4 

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic TS4 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL5 comes with outer measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) and the Panasonic TS4 has dimensions of 103mm x 64mm x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 197 grams (0.43 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL5 versus Panasonic TS4 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select during that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PL5 vs the TS4.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic TS4 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL5 and TS4 is 88 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic TS4 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic TS4 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions only by checking specs. The image underneath will give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL5 and TS4.

All in all, both of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL5 due to its larger sensor will make getting bokeh less difficult and the Olympus E-PL5 will give more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a little more aggressively. The newer E-PL5 is going to have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic TS4 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic TS4 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic TS4 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography information
Panasonic TS4 Portrait photography information
71
manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
21
lack of manual focus
external flash not possible
low resolution sensor (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic TS4 as a Street photography camera
85
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
has focus via touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL5
Sports photography with Panasonic TS4
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
lack of phase detect autofocus
38
has image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking focus
environment proofing
good battery pack (310 per charge)
max shutter speed is low (1/1,300 seconds)
max frames per second very slow (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography information
Panasonic TS4 Travel photography information
75
has focus via touch
good MP (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
lack of Timelapse function
66
good battery pack (310 CIPA)
environment proofing
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography details
Panasonic TS4 Landscape photography details
74
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
lack of Timelapse function
41
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
good battery pack (310 CIPA)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic TS4 as a Vlogging camera
78
selfie friendly display
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lack of microphone socket
32
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic TS4 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic TS4
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-FT4
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Introduced 2012-09-17 2012-01-31
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-128mm (4.6x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1300s
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 5.60 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
Max flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325g (0.72 pounds) 197g (0.43 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 103 x 64 x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 889 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 310 pictures
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 recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $400 $399