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Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax RZ18 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
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Released September 2011
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax RZ18, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the RZ18 (16MP) is very close but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and RZ18 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL5 was announced 13 months later than the RZ18 making them a generation apart from each other. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a detailed comparison, here is a short highlight of how the E-PL5 grades vs the RZ18 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Pentax RZ18

 E-PL5 RZ18 
ReleasedSeptember 2012September 2011Fresher by 13 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Olympus E-PL5

 RZ18 E-PL5 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax RZ18

 E-PL5 RZ18 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display size3"3"Same display size
Display resolution460k460kIdentical display resolution

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL5 comes with exterior dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) whilst the Pentax RZ18 has measurements of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax RZ18 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using during that time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PL5 and the RZ18.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL5 and RZ18 is 88 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to envision the gap in sensor sizing only by researching specifications. The graphic below will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL5 and RZ18.

To sum up, the 2 cameras feature the identical resolution but not the same sensor sizing. The E-PL5 comes with the larger sensor which should make obtaining bokeh less difficult. The more recent E-PL5 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Portrait photography camera
71
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW files
36
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography info
Pentax RZ18 Street photography info
85
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
provides touch focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
lighter than average in class (178 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL5
Sports photography with Pentax RZ18
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
no phase detect AF
47
excellent zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
weather proofing
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Travel photography camera
75
provides touch focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse recording
71
lighter than average in class (178g)
weather proofing
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
very long reach (450mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
does not feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL5
Landscape photography with Pentax RZ18
74
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
49
manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
weather proofing
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Vlogging camera
78
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have external mic socket
30
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (178 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic port
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Pentax RZ18
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Pentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL5 Pentax Optio RZ18
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-09-17 2011-09-12
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
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 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-450mm (18.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing range - 4cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 seconds -
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, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
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) 178g (0.39 lb)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 shots -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $400 $210