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Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX1

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 front
Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
57
Overall
64

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX1 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
Sony RX1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0-22.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Released February 2013
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX1 Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-PL5 versus Sony RX1, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a significant difference among the image resolutions of the E-PL5 (16MP) and RX1 (24MP) and the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and RX1 (Full frame) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL5 was manufactured 5 months prior to the RX1 so they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going right into a full comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-PL5 grades against the RX1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Sony RX1

 E-PL5 RX1 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Olympus E-PL5

 RX1 E-PL5 
Screen resolution1229k460kSharper screen (+769k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Sony RX1

 E-PL5 RX1 
ReleasedSeptember 2012February 2013Same generation
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX1 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL5 enjoys external measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Sony RX1 has measurements of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") and a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL5 versus Sony RX1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL5 versus the RX1.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL5 and RX1 is 88 and 79 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to see the difference in sensor dimensions merely by going through specs. The picture below may give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL5 and RX1.

All in all, both of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL5 due to its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field trickier and the Sony RX1 will produce extra detail due to its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots a good deal more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography features
Sony RX1 Portrait photography features
71
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
82
you can focus manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/4,000s)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography details
Sony RX1 Street photography details
85
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
offers focus via touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
66
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
very good high ISO (25,600)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (482 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Sports photography camera
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
has no phase detect autofocus
53
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
can't change focal length (35mm)
max fps very slow (5.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low battery pack (270 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL5
Travel photography with Sony RX1
75
offers focus via touch
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse function
62
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
no Time Lapse mode
low battery pack (270 per charge)
heavier than competition in class (482 grams)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Landscape photography camera
74
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
does not have Time Lapse function
65
you can focus manually
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
very good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (35mm)
does not have image stabilization
low battery pack (270 shots)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX1 as a Vlogging camera
78
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have external mic socket
34
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
offers face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external mic port
does not feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (482g)
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Sony RX1
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-09-17 2013-02-19
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 35 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 35mm (1x)
Largest aperture - f/2.0-22.0
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic and Optical (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 secs 1/4000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 325 grams (0.72 lb) 482 grams (1.06 lb)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 93
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 25.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 14.3
DXO Low light rating 889 2534
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 270 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch price $400 $2,798