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Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX100

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 front
Portability
91
Imaging
50
Features
68
Overall
57

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX100 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
  • Revealed September 2012
Sony RX100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 240g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Released August 2012
  • Newer Model is Sony RX100 II
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX100 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus E-PL5 versus Sony RX100, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the RX100 (20MP) is very close but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and RX100 (1") boast different sensor size.

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The E-PL5 was released very close to the RX100 and they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go into a thorough comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the E-PL5 grades vs the RX100 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Sony RX100

 E-PL5 RX100 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 over the Olympus E-PL5

 RX100 E-PL5 
Display resolution1229k460kSharper display (+769k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Sony RX100

 E-PL5 RX100 
ReleasedSeptember 2012August 2012Same generation
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Display size3"3"Same display size

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX100 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera, you'll have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL5 has external measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) and the Sony RX100 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") with a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL5 versus Sony RX100 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you use at that moment. The following is a front view size comparison of the E-PL5 against the RX100.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX100 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL5 and RX100 is 88 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX100 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizing purely by researching specs. The visual underneath will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL5 and RX100.

All in all, each of these cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PL5 due to its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Sony RX100 will render greater detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images a good deal more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography info
Sony RX100 Portrait photography info
71
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
64
focusing manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000s)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
supports face detect focusing
supports RAW files
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography details
Sony RX100 Street photography details
85
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
comes with focus via touch
good high ISO (25,600)
79
built in image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
supports RAW files
lighter than average (240g)
great ISO range (25,600)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX100 as a Sports photography camera
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
no phase detect auto focus
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
supports tracking focus
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography highlights
Sony RX100 Travel photography highlights
75
comes with focus via touch
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
no Timelapse function
79
lighter than average (240g)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography info
Sony RX100 Landscape photography info
74
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
no Timelapse function
74
focusing manually
pretty wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL5
Vlogging with Sony RX100
78
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
no microphone jack
38
pretty wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (240 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no mic support
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Sony RX100
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-09-17 2012-08-28
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 25600 25600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
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 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-100mm (3.6x)
Maximum aperture - f/1.8-4.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 2.7
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 8.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/2000 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 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325g (0.72 pounds) 240g (0.53 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 72 66
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 12.4
DXO Low light score 889 390
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 330 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at release $400 $448