Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony RX100 III: Hands-On Comparison for Every Photographer’s Needs

As someone who’s tested thousands of cameras over more than 15 years - spanning everything from pocket compacts to pro bodies - I’m often asked to help photographers choose their ideal tool. Today, I’m diving deep into a detailed, experience-based comparison between two beloved models from a few years back that continue to attract interest: the Olympus PEN E-PL5, an entry-level mirrorless I tested in urban landscapes and portrait studios; and the Sony RX100 III, a high-end large-sensor compact I’ve used extensively on travels and quick street shoots.

Both cameras target enthusiasts, but with distinct design philosophies and capabilities. I’ll walk you through sensor tech, autofocus, ergonomics, and how each performs across key photography disciplines - portrait, landscape, wildlife, sports, and more. Along the way, I’ll share the practical pros and cons I uncovered shooting with these cameras beyond just specs, to help you decide which suits your style and budget.

First Impressions and Physical Design: Handling Matters More Than You’d Think

Size and Ergonomics

Unpacking these cameras side-by-side reminds me how form often determines function. The Olympus E-PL5 sports a classic rangefinder-styled mirrorless body with a decently sized grip, reflecting its Micro Four Thirds heritage. The Sony RX100 III squeezes a much larger sensor into an impossibly compact package, offering supreme portability - ideal for travel and street photographers craving discretion.

I found the E-PL5’s body slightly larger yet comfortably weighted at 325g, offering a solid hold with room for fingers. The RX100 III is lighter at 290g, though with a more compact footprint (102x58x41 mm) that can challenge those with bigger hands, especially for longer shooting sessions.

Control Layout and Top View

Both cameras feature thoughtful layouts, but their approach reflects their differing philosophies: Olympus leans on manual control dials and buttons externalizing essential settings, aimed at those who appreciate tactile feedback. Sony’s design is minimalist, relying more on menus and a pop-up electronic viewfinder for framing.

Real-world use showed me how the E-PL5’s tilting 3” touchscreen aids in intuitive focusing and menu navigation, perfect for beginners learning manual modes. The RX100 III’s flip-up screen supports eye-level shooting but lacks touchscreen, which might feel like a step back to some.

Sensor Solutions: Size, Resolution, and Image Quality

Sensor size remains one of the most crucial factors shaping image quality and versatility. The Olympus uses a Four Thirds format sensor measuring 17.3x13 mm (224.9 mm²), while the Sony harnesses a 1” sensor sized 13.2x8.8 mm (116.16 mm²) - about half the Olympus's sensor area.

Despite the size difference, the RX100 III pushes 20 megapixels (5472x3648 max resolution) versus the E-PL5’s 16 MP (4608x3456). However, sheer pixels don’t tell the whole story: the larger four-thirds sensor on the Olympus often brings better depth of field control and improved high ISO performance in many shooting situations due to larger pixel sizes.

Image Quality in Practice

In controlled testing, the Olympus’s images revealed richer color depth (22.8 bits vs 22.4) and excellent dynamic range (12.3 EV for both), resulting in pleasing skin tones and natural transitions in landscapes. The RX100 III’s back-illuminated CMOS sensor (BSI-CMOS) granted good sharpness and detail, especially in daylight, but showed more noise at higher ISOs compared to Olympus.

Viewing Systems and User Interface

LCD Screen and Viewfinder Experience

The Olympus boasts a 3-inch tiltable touchscreen LCD at 460k dots, smooth for selecting AF points with a fingertip, even from low or high angles. The RX100 III ups the ante with a 3-inch tilting LCD showing 1229k dots, dramatically sharper for previewing images and assessing focus.

Moreover, the Sony integrates an electronic viewfinder (1440k dots) with 100% coverage and 0.59x magnification - absent by default on the Olympus, though the latter supports optional EVFs. This makes a tangible difference when shooting under strong sun or for fast-paced framing scenarios.

The menu structure on Olympus is straightforward with sensible customizations, while Sony’s is more complex - a mix attributed to its more compact size and feature set.

Autofocus: Precision, Speed, and Tracking

Autofocus often separates a frustrating camera from one inspiring creative confidence. The Olympus E-PL5 employs 35 contrast-detection AF points with face detection and tracking - fairly advanced for its time, though lacking phase detection. The Sony RX100 III has 25 contrast-detection points, coupled with eye detection in later firmware, also without phase detection AF.

Performance on the Field

In practical use, the E-PL5’s AF was responsive in good light but tended to hunt under low illumination or tricky contrast situations. Tracking moving subjects was decent, helpful for casual street and portraiture sessions, but could falter at higher shutter speeds with erratic motion.

Sony’s RX100 III exhibited quicker AF lock, helped by the Bionz X processor and optimized algorithms, especially in well-lit environments. Its continuous AF and subject tracking excelled in moderately dynamic scenes, though it too struggled in dim light or when subjects moved unpredictably.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Speeds for Action

The Olympus offers an 8fps burst rate, solid for an entry mirrorless, with shutter speeds varying from 60s bulb up to 1/4000s. The RX100 III caps continuous shooting at 10fps but features a maximum shutter speed of 1/2000s.

For wildlife or sports photography testing, neither camera is a true speed demon, but the Sony’s 10fps capability gave me slightly more headroom for capturing fleeting moments.

Lens Ecosystem vs. Fixed Lens Flexibility

One immediate divergence is Olympus’s use of the Micro Four Thirds lens mount, compatible with 107 native lenses from Olympus, Panasonic, and third parties covering from wide to telephoto and specialty optics. This flexibility allows photographers to tailor their kit perfectly, be it fast primes for portraiture or rugged zooms for landscapes.

Conversely, the Sony RX100 III features a fixed 24-70mm equivalent F1.8-2.8 lens. It’s impressively sharp with a bright aperture ideal for low light but lacks the focal length versatility you get with interchangeable lenses.

Versatility Across Photography Types

Let me break down how each handles specific photography genres based on real-world shooting.

Portrait Photography

The Olympus’s larger sensor yields smoother bokeh with Micro Four Thirds primes, and face/eye detection AF worked reliably enough for casual portraiture. The tilting touchscreen simplified focusing on eyes or subjects off-center.

Sony’s RX100 III lens is versatile, and its bright aperture helps isolate subjects indoors. However, the smaller sensor’s depth of field control can feel limiting when trying for creamy background blur.

Landscape Photography

Here the Olympus shines with greater resolution and dynamic range, plus the ability to swap to ultra-wide or high-quality primes. Its sensor-based stabilization aids in tripod-free handheld shots at lower shutter speeds.

RX100 III’s compactness is a plus when trekking light, and the lens renders landscapes sharply, though sensor size caps ultimate image quality potential.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Neither camera is tailored for wildlife pros due to limited burst depth and AF coverage. The Olympus’s 8fps and relatively quick AF suits casual wildlife, while Sony’s 10fps and superior AF speed gives an edge on quick street/action shots.

Street Photography

Sony’s compactness, silent operation, and tilting screen make the RX100 III ideal for candid street photography. The Olympus, larger and with a more deliberate design, is less unobtrusive but provides more manual control.

Macro Photography

The E-PL5’s option to pair with dedicated macro lenses and sensor stabilization facilitates sharp close-ups, whereas the RX100 III’s lens can focus as close as 5cm but with modest magnification.

Night and Astrophotography

The Olympus’s higher max ISO (25600 vs 12800) and better noise profile make it better suited for low-light and starry skies when paired with fast lenses.

Video Capabilities

Both shoot Full HD video, but Sony’s RX100 III supports 60p and multiple frame rates, plus AVCHD and XAVC S formats for better editing workflows. The Olympus is limited to 30 fps in MP4 and Motion JPEG codecs. Optical image stabilization on the Sony outperforms Olympus’s sensor shift during video.

Build Quality, Weather Sealing, and Durability

Neither camera offers environmental sealing - so extensive outdoor use in wet or dusty conditions requires caution. Both bodies feel robust but prioritize portability over ruggedness.

Battery Life and Storage

Battery endurance tested reveals the Olympus’s BLS-5 pack delivers approximately 360 shots per charge, slightly edging out the Sony’s NP-BX1 at around 320 shots. Both use a single SD card slot, but Sony additionally supports Memory Stick Pro Duo cards for some flexibility.

Connectivity and Sharing

Sony RX100 III includes built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for swift wireless transfer - handy for quick social media uploads. Olympus's Eye-Fi compatibility is more limited and now somewhat dated. Neither supports Bluetooth, so remote control options vary.

Price and Value Assessment

At time of review, the Olympus E-PL5 hovers around $400 new (sometimes found less used), while the Sony RX100 III carries a higher price of about $750, reflecting its premium compact segment status.

Given the specs, lens flexibility, and photo quality, Olympus represents great bang for entry-level mirrorless buyers. The Sony appeals to travelers and street photographers wanting a pocket powerhouse despite spending more.

Comparative Performance by Genre

Sample Image Showcase

Here’s a side-by-side of RAW conversions from both cameras shot in natural light to illustrate color rendition, detail, and bokeh differences:

Olympus E PL5 front Olympus E PL5 screen back Sony RX100 III front Sony RX100 III screen back

Summing Up: Which One Should You Choose?

Choose Olympus E-PL5 if:

• You want interchangeable lenses with broad options and affordable glass.
• Prioritize more manual controls and touchscreen interface.
• Your focus is portraits, landscapes, and macro work with decent budget.
• You prefer a slightly larger camera body with superior depth of field control.

Choose Sony RX100 III if:

• You seek travel or street photography convenience in a pocketable camera.
• Desire an integrated electronic viewfinder and superior video formats.
• Need fast continuous shooting with solid autofocus for quick moments.
• Value built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for direct sharing and remote shooting.

Both admittedly show their age by today’s standards - but remain capable tools. I personally enjoyed the Olympus when working on portraits and detailed still life, while the RX100 III never left my side during tight travel packing and spontaneous street captures.

Final Thoughts

From my extensive testing perspective, these two cameras serve distinct user profiles, despite overlapping enthusiast ambitions.

• E-PL5 fits those wanting to learn photography hands-on with lens versatility and classic ergonomics.
• RX100 III excels as a mighty compact companion blending image quality and portability, albeit at a premium.

Your choice should be informed by what you shoot most, your style of working, and how much control vs convenience you require. I hope this detailed comparison helps guide your next step confidently, grounded both in technical detail and real-world experience.

Happy shooting!