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Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX100 III

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
77
Overall
61

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX100 III 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 RX100 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 290g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Released May 2014
  • Succeeded the Sony RX100 II
  • Successor is Sony RX100 IV
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX100 III Overview

In this write-up, we are analyzing the Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX100 III, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the RX100 III (20MP) is very similar but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and RX100 III (1") enjoy different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL5 was manufactured 20 months earlier than the RX100 III making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 III being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving through a more detailed comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the E-PL5 matches up versus the RX100 III with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Sony RX100 III

 E-PL5 RX100 III 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 III over the Olympus E-PL5

 RX100 III E-PL5 
ReleasedMay 2014September 2012More recent by 20 months
Display resolution1229k460kClearer display (+769k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Sony RX100 III

 E-PL5 RX100 III 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX100 III Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera often, you have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL5 features external measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) and the Sony RX100 III has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 290 grams (0.64 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX100 III in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you select during that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PL5 compared to the RX100 III.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX100 III size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL5 and RX100 III is 88 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX100 III top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX100 III Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to visualize the difference between sensor measurements just by reviewing specs. The visual here may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL5 and RX100 III.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL5 featuring a larger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field simpler and the Sony RX100 III will deliver greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images far more aggressively. The older E-PL5 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX100 III sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX100 III Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL5
Portrait photography with Sony RX100 III
71
manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
exports RAW formats
64
you can focus manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000 seconds)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
comes with face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Street photography camera
Sony RX100 III as a Street photography camera
85
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
has touch to focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
85
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (290g)
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Sports Comparison

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

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL5
Travel photography with Sony RX100 III
75
has touch to focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
85
lighter than competition in class (290g)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
pretty wide (24mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography features
Sony RX100 III Landscape photography features
74
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
73
you can focus manually
pretty wide (24mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging advice
Sony RX100 III Vlogging advice
78
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have mic port
80
pretty wide (24mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (290 grams)
no mic port
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX100 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Sony RX100 III
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-09-17 2014-05-15
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-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 16MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Min native ISO 200 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 35 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-70mm (2.9x)
Maximal aperture - f/1.8-2.8
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.7
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom 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) -
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 secs 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
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 None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325 grams (0.72 pounds) 290 grams (0.64 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 67
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 22.4
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 12.3
DXO Low light score 889 495
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 320 pictures
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, self-portrait, continuous)
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $400 $748