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Olympus E-PL5 vs Samsung NX210

Portability
88
Imaging
51
Features
72
Overall
59
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Samsung NX210 front
Portability
90
Imaging
61
Features
57
Overall
59

Olympus E-PL5 vs Samsung NX210 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
  • Launched September 2012
Samsung NX210
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 222g - 117 x 63 x 37mm
  • Launched August 2012
  • Old Model is Samsung NX200
  • Updated by Samsung NX300
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Samsung NX210 Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-PL5 vs Samsung NX210, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by brands Olympus and Samsung. The resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the NX210 (20MP) is fairly comparable but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and NX210 (APS-C) possess different sensor size.

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The E-PL5 was revealed 2 months after the NX210 and they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple overview of how the E-PL5 grades against the NX210 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Samsung NX210

 E-PL5 NX210 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Samsung NX210 over the Olympus E-PL5

 NX210 E-PL5 
Display resolution614k460kCrisper display (+154k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Samsung NX210

 E-PL5 NX210 
LaunchedSeptember 2012August 2012Same age
Manual focus More precise focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size

Olympus E-PL5 vs Samsung NX210 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry around your camera often, you need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL5 has got external dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Samsung NX210 has specifications of 117mm x 63mm x 37mm (4.6" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 222 grams (0.49 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL5 vs Samsung NX210 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the E-PL5 against the NX210.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Samsung NX210 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL5 and NX210 is 88 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Samsung NX210 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Samsung NX210 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes simply by seeing specifications. The picture underneath may give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL5 and NX210.

To sum up, the 2 cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL5 having a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Samsung NX210 will produce more detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics somewhat more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Samsung NX210 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Samsung NX210 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Samsung NX210 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography advice
Samsung NX210 Portrait photography advice
70
manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
76
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography information
Samsung NX210 Street photography information
85
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
features focus by touch
good high ISO (25,600)
73
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lighter than competition in class (222g)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography highlights
Samsung NX210 Sports photography highlights
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
does not have phase detect autofocus
55
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography details
Samsung NX210 Travel photography details
75
features focus by touch
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
doesn't have Timelapse function
68
lighter than competition in class (222 grams)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography info
Samsung NX210 Landscape photography info
73
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
70
focusing manually
change lenses (Samsung NX mount)
decent sized screen (3")
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging advice
Samsung NX210 Vlogging advice
78
screen is selfie friendly
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have microphone jack
34
includes face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (222 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
does not have microphone support
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Samsung NX210 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Samsung NX210
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Samsung NX210
General Information
Brand Olympus Samsung
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Samsung NX210
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2012-09-17 2012-08-14
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 35 15
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Samsung NX
Available lenses 107 32
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 614 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - Active Matrix OLED screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames per sec 8.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, 1st/2nd Curtain, Smart Flash, Manual
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1920 x 810 (24 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325g (0.72 lbs) 222g (0.49 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 117 x 63 x 37mm (4.6" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 71
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 12.5
DXO Low light score 889 719
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 330 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 BC1030
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 sec to 30 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $400 $625