Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony A77

In this article, we are reviewing the Olympus E-PL5 versus Sony A77, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a huge gap among the resolutions of the E-PL5 (16MP) and A77 (24MP) and the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and A77 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL5 was announced 11 months later than the A77 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A77 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go in to a detailed comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-PL5 scores against the A77 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PL5 and Sony SLT-A77. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL5 Gallery and Sony A77 Gallery.

When you are intending to lug around your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL5 has outer dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Sony A77 has proportions of 143mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") along with a weight of 732 grams (1.61 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL5 versus Sony A77 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilising at that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-PL5 vs the A77.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL5 and A77 is 88 and 59 respectively.

Typically, it's tough to visualise the difference in sensor measurements just by seeing technical specs. The visual below should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL5 and A77.

As you can tell, each of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL5 with its smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh more challenging and the Sony A77 will provide more detail with its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop images a little more aggressively. The younger E-PL5 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.