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Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony HX20V 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
  • Announced September 2012
Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Introduced July 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony HX10V
  • Successor is Sony HX30V
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony HX20V Overview

Below is a extensive review of the Olympus E-PL5 and Sony HX20V, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the HX20V (18MP) is pretty close but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and HX20V (1/2.3") provide different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL5 was introduced 2 months later than the HX20V and they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX20V being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-PL5 grades vs the HX20V for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Sony HX20V

 E-PL5 HX20V 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Olympus E-PL5

 HX20V E-PL5 
Screen resolution922k460kSharper screen (+462k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Sony HX20V

 E-PL5 HX20V 
IntroducedSeptember 2012July 2012Same age
Focus manually Very precise focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL5 provides exterior dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) whilst the Sony HX20V has measurements of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL5 and Sony HX20V in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are working with at the time. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the E-PL5 versus the HX20V.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL5 and HX20V is 88 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to imagine the difference in sensor measurements only by researching technical specs. The visual here should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL5 and HX20V.

As you have seen, both the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL5 using its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Sony HX20V will render more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography features
Sony HX20V Portrait photography features
71
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
supports RAW files
45
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
features face detect focus
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography details
Sony HX20V Street photography details
85
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
has touch to focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (254g)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography info
Sony HX20V Sports photography info
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
lacks phase detect AF
49
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
features tracking focus
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography advice
Sony HX20V Travel photography advice
75
has touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
does not have Timelapse mode
69
lighter than others (254g)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
long zoom (500mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography factors
Sony HX20V Landscape photography factors
74
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
50
manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging details
Sony HX20V Vlogging details
78
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have microphone socket
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (254 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of mic jack
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Sony HX20V
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-09-17 2012-07-20
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus range - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 8.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 7.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250s -
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325g (0.72 pounds) 254g (0.56 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photos 320 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch price $400 $397