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Olympus E-PL5 vs Samsung NX300M

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Samsung NX300M front
Portability
86
Imaging
63
Features
73
Overall
67

Olympus E-PL5 vs Samsung NX300M 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
  • Released September 2012
Samsung NX300M
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 331g - 122 x 64 x 41mm
  • Revealed January 2013
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL5 vs Samsung NX300M Overview

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-PL5 versus Samsung NX300M, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Samsung. The sensor resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the NX300M (20MP) is pretty close but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and NX300M (APS-C) boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL5 was manufactured 3 months earlier than the NX300M which means that they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short view of how the E-PL5 scores vs the NX300M with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Samsung NX300M

 E-PL5 NX300M 
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Samsung NX300M over the Olympus E-PL5

 NX300M E-PL5 
Screen size3.3"3"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution768k460kSharper screen (+308k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Samsung NX300M

 E-PL5 NX300M 
RevealedSeptember 2012January 2013Same age
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PL5 vs Samsung NX300M Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry your camera, you will want to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL5 has outer dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Samsung NX300M has sizing of 122mm x 64mm x 41mm (4.8" x 2.5" x 1.6") with a weight of 331 grams (0.73 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL5 versus Samsung NX300M in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are employing during that time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the E-PL5 against the NX300M.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Samsung NX300M size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL5 and NX300M is 88 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Samsung NX300M top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Samsung NX300M Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's tough to visualise the difference in sensor sizing purely by researching specifications. The visual here might give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL5 and NX300M.

Plainly, both of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL5 because of its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more difficult and the Samsung NX300M will render more detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots way more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Samsung NX300M sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Samsung NX300M Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Samsung NX300M Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography advice
Samsung NX300M Portrait photography advice
71
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
supports RAW files
77
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography features
Samsung NX300M Street photography features
85
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
boasts touch focus
good high ISO (25,600)
80
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
provides touch to focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography information
Samsung NX300M Sports photography information
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
has no phase detect auto focus
73
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
comes with phase detect AF
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography highlights
Samsung NX300M Travel photography highlights
75
boasts touch focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
does not have Time Lapse function
67
provides touch to focus
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Landscape photography camera
Samsung NX300M as a Landscape photography camera
74
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
does not have Time Lapse function
72
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen is a decent size (3.3 inches)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging info
Samsung NX300M Vlogging info
78
selfie friendly screen
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have external mic jack
33
touch screen
includes face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
does not have mic port
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Samsung NX300M Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Samsung NX300M
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Samsung NX300M
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Samsung
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Samsung NX300M
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2012-09-17 2013-01-03
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - DRIMe IV
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 25600 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 247
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Samsung NX
Available lenses 107 32
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3" 3.3"
Screen resolution 460k dot 768k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - Active Matrix OLED screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 8.0fps 9.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) no built-in flash
Flash modes 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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 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, 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325 grams (0.72 lbs) 331 grams (0.73 lbs)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 122 x 64 x 41mm (4.8" x 2.5" x 1.6")
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 photographs 330 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 sec to 30 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $400 $699