Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony WX350: Practical Performance and Value in Real-World Photography

In a universe of ever-expanding camera options, choosing the right tool to express your photographic vision can be overwhelming. Today, we'll delve deeply into two quite different offerings from Olympus and Sony: the Olympus E-PL5, a beloved Micro Four Thirds entry-level mirrorless camera launched in 2012, and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX350, a compact 20x superzoom point-and-shoot that debuted in 2014. My hands-on testing of thousands of cameras - across studio shoots, rugged outdoor treks, bustling sports arenas, and quiet nightscapes - allows me to distill how these two models truly perform in practical settings. This article unpacks their strengths and compromises across photographic genres, from portrait to wildlife, and highlights who will benefit most from each camera.

Let’s embark on a comprehensive journey - sensor tech to ergonomics, lens ecosystems to value-for-money - anchored in real-world observations and lab-based metrics.

Size, Build, and Handling: Getting a Grip on Design Philosophy

The first thing I noticed after unboxing is how differently these cameras approach design. The Olympus E-PL5, with its rangefinder-style mirrorless body, offers a solid, ergonomic feel that invites serious shooting sessions. In contrast, the Sony WX350 is a pocketable, compact camera, ideal for grab-and-go casual snaps with a versatile zoom lens.

At 111 x 64 x 38 mm and weighing 325 grams, the E-PL5 provides a high-grip, slightly retro aesthetic with a tilting touchscreen, fostering comfortable shooting, especially with one-handed operation. The dedicated dials for exposure compensation, shutter speed, and aperture make manual control intuitive - a boon for enthusiasts who enjoy creative input.

Compare this to the WX350’s supercompact dimensions of 96 x 55 x 26 mm and featherlight 164 grams. It slips effortlessly into a pocket or small bag, making it perfect for discreet street photography or travel when size and concealment matter. However, the tradeoff is a lack of true physical controls; many functions are buried in menus, somewhat limiting for photographers accustomed to tactile feedback.

In my tests, Olympus’s more substantial body improves stability when using heavier lenses or shooting handheld landscapes, while Sony’s pocket shooter excels at quick, casual captures during walks or holidays.

Control Layout and User Interface: Where Form Meets Function

Digging under the skin, both cameras arrive with different philosophies on control interfaces.

The Olympus E-PL5 features an accessible top plate with a dedicated mode dial, dedicated shutter release, and an exposure compensation dial - standard tools for seasoned users. The rear’s tilting touchscreen, although just 460K dots, responds well to touch commands and is invaluable when shooting around obstacles or at odd angles. The interface menus are logically structured but sometimes sluggish due to its older processor.

In stark contrast, the Sony WX350 opts for simplicity, with minimal physical buttons and a fixed screen - also 3" and 460K dots but not touch-enabled. Its superzoom lens results in a bulky barrel protruding from a tiny chassis, causing slight handling challenges. The lack of manual exposure controls - no aperture or shutter priority modes - and no physical mode dial means controlling exposure is mostly automatic or reliant on limited scene presets.

If intuitive, granular control is a priority (think landscape or portrait work), Olympus clearly wins here. Those seeking point-and-shoot ease with a forgiving zoom experience lean toward the WX350.

Sensor Characteristics and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Now to a fundamental difference: sensor size and image quality potential.

The Olympus E-PL5 employs a Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) CMOS sensor with 16 megapixels. This sensor footprint is significantly larger than Sony’s tiny 1/2.3" BSI CMOS sensor (just 6.17 x 4.55 mm) boasting an 18-megapixel count. On paper, the WX350 has higher resolution, but in practice, sensor size dominates image quality.

Why does sensor size matter? Larger sensors capture more light, resulting in better dynamic range, lower noise at high ISO, and greater control over depth of field - essential for professional-quality portraits and landscapes. The Olympus achieves a DxOMark overall score of 72 (color depth 22.8 bits, dynamic range 12.3 EV, low-light ISO 889), indicating solid performance capable of nuanced tonal gradations and respectable ISO resistance. The Sony WX350 lacks official DxOMark testing, but its small sensor usually means reduced dynamic range, higher noise at elevated ISO, and limited detail retention in shadows/highlights.

In real-world shooting, Olympus delivers richer, cleaner images full of subtle textures - whether using prime lenses or kit zooms - especially noticeable in low-light interiors or dusk landscapes. Sony’s images, while bright and detailed in good light, suffer from noise and softness when pushed, though its smaller sensor allows faster processing and reduced lens size.

For image quality purists and enthusiasts, the Olympus sensor’s advantage is decisive. Casual shooters prioritizing zoom reach and convenience might accept the WX350’s inherent limitations.

Shooting Experience Across Photography Genres

To truly evaluate how these cameras perform, I tested both in common and specialized photography use cases.

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones and Background Separation

Portraiture demands nuanced skin tones, smooth bokeh, and accurate focus on eyes.

Olympus E-PL5 shines here, thanks to its larger sensor and access to Micro Four Thirds lenses with wide apertures (f/1.8 or wider). The 35-point contrast-detection AF, face detection, and live view AF allow precise focusing on eyes - a must-have for sharp portraits. The sensor size provides shallower depth of field, creating beautifully blurred backgrounds to isolate subjects.

Sony WX350, with its small sensor and relatively slow zoom lens (f/3.5–6.5), struggles to reproduce creamy bokeh. Its face detection works reasonably well but lacks eye detection or tracking sophistication. Portraits often show harsher backgrounds and slightly less flattering rendering of skin tones, particularly in mixed or harsh lighting.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range, Resolution, and Durability

Landscapes rely on sensor dynamic range and resolution to capture the full tonal spectrum of a scene.

Olympus, with a 12.3 EV dynamic range and 16 MP native resolution, produces crisp, richly detailed images with wide latitude for post-processing hues and shadows. Its sensor-based image stabilization aids handheld shooting during soft light hours.

Sony’s WX350’s smaller sensor delivers respectable 18 MP images but limited dynamic range, often requiring in-camera HDR or post-processing to recover shadows and highlights. This camera lacks weather sealing critics love in outdoor use, which the Olympus also misses - both are vulnerable to dust and moisture, but Olympus’s more robust body mounts heavier lenses better suited to rugged fieldwork.

If you shoot landscapes seriously, E-PL5 is more versatile and rewarding. For casual landscape shots on vacation, the WX350 suffices.

Wildlife and Sports Photography: Autofocus Speed, Burst Rate, and Telephoto Reach

Capturing fast-moving subjects demands rapid autofocus (AF), high continuous shooting speeds, and sufficient telephoto reach.

Sony WX350 impresses with a 20x zoom (25–500 mm equivalent), an autofocus capable of contrast detection with tracking, and a rapid 10 fps burst rate. Its lens coverage answers the call for distance shooting in wildlife and sports. However, the lens’s slower aperture at telephoto and smaller sensor compromise low-light capabilities and subject isolation. Autofocus tends to hunt in dim or high-contrast conditions.

Olympus E-PL5’s 8 fps burst rate and 35 focus points with face detection provide reliable AF performance, but telephoto reach depends on separate lenses - an entry-level zoom or Olympus’s telephotos. The native MFT lens ecosystem offers faster apertures and more AF sophistication (e.g., some lenses with built-in motors and silent focusing), aiding both stills and video subject tracking. Sensor stabilization also helps combat shake at longer focal lengths.

In tests, WX350 is a strong ready-out-of-the-box compact telephoto camera for casual wildlife/sports shots. Olympus, combined with suitable lenses, provides better AF precision and higher image quality for serious enthusiasts prepared to invest in glass.

Street Photography: Discreetness, Low Light, and Portability

Street photography demands quick AF, low-light performance, and discrete handling.

Sony WX350’s compact size and zoom versatility make it less conspicuous on urban streets - no raised bulky lenses, easy to carry. It's quiet operationally but somewhat slow autofocus limits catching fast moments unless in good light. Lack of a viewfinder means composing sometimes requires awkward screen use outdoors.

Olympus E-PL5, while larger, remains relatively compact for a mirrorless system and benefits from the tilting touchscreen and optional electronic viewfinder (sold separately), aiding composition in tricky angles or bright sunlight. The larger sensor and image stabilization dramatically improve low-light capture, a street photography staple.

For urban vignettes, I prefer Olympus if you can carry the extra weight; otherwise, Sony’s stealthy approach works well for casual street snapping.

Macro Photography: Magnification, Focusing Precision, and Stabilization

Macro demands precision focus and stable shooting.

Olympus E-PL5 supports a wide range of dedicated macro Micro Four Thirds lenses with close focusing distances and optics tailored for sharpness and bokeh control. Sensor-based stabilization further helps when shooting handheld macro shots, where every millimeter matters.

Sony WX350, with fixed lens design, offers a limited minimum focusing distance - suitable for flower snapshots or casual close-ups but far from specialized macro use. Its optical stabilization aids handholding but can’t replace specialized optics or focus stacking capabilities.

Therefore, Olympus E-PL5 decidedly leads for macro enthusiasts.

Night and Astrophotography: High ISO Noise Levels and Exposure Modes

Night shooters push sensors to extremes.

The Olympus, with higher base ISO 200 and max ISO 25600, has an edge for cleaner images at higher ISO levels. Its ability to shoot in RAW gives post-processing control essential for astrophotography. Manual exposure modes enable long exposures, and although no built-in intervalometer exists, external options or apps can fill the gap.

Sony WX350 allows lower minimum ISO 80, but its smaller sensor produces noisy images beyond ISO 800. No RAW support limits editing flexibility. Exposure control is automatic leaning, with no true manual modes, restricting astrophotography options.

Hence Olympus E-PL5 is more capable for serious night shooters.

Video Capabilities: Resolution, Stabilization, and Audio

Both cameras record full HD video but with several differences.

Olympus shoots 1080p at 30 fps using MPEG-4, H.264 codec with sensor-based image stabilization, which smoothes handheld footage well. However, no mic input limits sound quality improvement.

Sony WX350 records AVCHD and MP4 files in 1080p with up to 60i frame rates, offering smoother motion but sensor and lens stabilization only optical. No external mic support either.

Neither camera offers 4K or advanced video features such as focus peaking or zebra stripes. The Olympus video capabilities are more friendly for hybrid shooters due to easier manual controls and better stabilization.

Travel Photography: Versatility, Battery Life, and Portability

Travel demands a reliable all-rounder.

In portability, Sony wins hands down. Its small size, lightweight body, and versatile zoom suit backpackers who prioritize convenience.

In battery life, Sony tops with an estimated 470 shots per charge versus Olympus’s 360. The single SD card slot around similar specs.

Olympus offers better image quality, lens interchangeability for diverse shooting scenarios - landscapes, portraits, street - making it a slightly heavier but all-around travel companion.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither camera is weather-sealed, waterproof, or shockproof, limiting rugged outdoor uses. Both are designed primarily for casual to enthusiast photographers rather than professionals working in extreme conditions.

Lens Ecosystems and Compatibility

The Olympus E-PL5 benefits from the extensive Micro Four Thirds lens ecosystem, which is one of the richest in the mirrorless world, offering over 100 lens options ranging from ultra-wide, primes, fast telephotos, macros, and specialties.

The Sony WX350 is a fixed-lens camera - no lens swapping possible - built for convenience, not customization.

Connectivity and Storage

Both cameras have a single card slot supporting SD/SDHC/SDXC cards. Olympus supports Eye-Fi wireless SD cards for image transfer, while Sony includes built-in Wi-Fi, making immediate image sharing easier.

No Bluetooth, NFC, or GPS on either camera.

Battery Life and Power Management

Sony WX350’s battery life is an advantage with approximately 470 shots per charge, excellent for day-long trips. Olympus is rated at 360 shots, standard for mirrorless at the time.

Price and Value Analysis

When launched, Olympus E-PL5 was around $400. The WX350 debuted at approximately $270.

Considering build quality, image quality, and versatility, the Olympus offers superior value for enthusiasts wanting creative control and better images. The Sony appeals to budget-conscious casual shooters needing long zoom reach in a tiny body.

Summary of Strengths and Weaknesses

Making the Right Choice for Your Photography

Choose Olympus E-PL5 if you:

• Prioritize image quality, especially in portraits, landscapes, and low light.
• Want the creative control of manual exposure modes and interchangeable lenses.
• Need better video stabilization and modest video features.
• Shoot macro or desire a wide lens variety.
• Can live with a larger, less pocketable body.

Choose Sony WX350 if you:

• Require a compact, pocketable camera for travel or street.
• Want an affordable, easy-to-use superzoom for casual wildlife/sports shooting.
• Have minimal desire for manual control or lens swapping.
• Value longer battery life and fast burst shooting.
• Are okay with image quality tradeoffs for portability.

Visualizing Performance Across Genres and Overall Scores

To help clarify the nuanced differences, I’ve compiled genre-specific performance ratings and overall scores based on hands-on testing and technical specs.

Wildlife and sports see Sony’s zoom and burst rates shine but Olympus takes a lead when IQ is paramount. Landscape, portrait, macro, and night photography favor the Olympus, reflecting sensor advantages and flexibility. Video capabilities are quite similar, though Olympus offers better usability.

A Gallery of Image Samples from Both Cameras

Below are side-by-side samples showcasing typical outcomes. Notice the richer tonal range and sharper detail in the Olympus compared to Sony’s photos, which sometimes show noise and loss of highlight detail.

Olympus E PL5 front Olympus E PL5 screen back Sony WX350 front Sony WX350 screen back

In Conclusion: Two Cameras, Two Missions

Choosing between the Olympus E-PL5 and Sony WX350 boils down to what you value most:

• If you seek artistic control and superior image quality with the ability to grow your kit, the Olympus E-PL5 remains an excellent, capable mirrorless camera despite its age.
• If your focus is convenience, portability, and zoom power in a straightforward, budget-friendly compact, the Sony WX350 is a competent companion.

Whichever you choose, understanding these core strengths ensures your investment aligns perfectly with your photographic ambitions.

Bonus: The Backscreen Experience

Before closing, let’s briefly examine their rear interfaces, a crucial usability factor.

The Olympus’ tilting touchscreen enables versatile composition and menu control, giving creative flexibility, especially for low or high-angle shooting. The Sony’s fixed screen lacks touch but remains bright and functional due to its compactness.

In the ever-changing landscape of digital photography, both the Olympus E-PL5 and Sony WX350 continue to offer value, each excelling in its niche. My recommendation is to view these cameras not as competitors but as complementary tools addressing distinct photographic needs and styles.

Happy shooting!