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Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony A77

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Sony SLT-A77 front
Portability
59
Imaging
64
Features
83
Overall
71

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony A77 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
  • Released September 2012
Sony A77
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 50 - 16000 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 732g - 143 x 104 x 81mm
  • Launched October 2011
  • Earlier Model is Sony A700
  • Replacement is Sony A77 II
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony A77 Overview

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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Sony A77

 E-PL5 A77 
LaunchedSeptember 2012October 2011More recent by 11 months
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A77 over the Olympus E-PL5

 A77 E-PL5 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Sony A77

 E-PL5 A77 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Both good for selfies

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony A77 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony A77 size comparison

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

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony A77 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony A77 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony A77 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony A77 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony A77 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography details
Sony A77 Portrait photography details
71
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
saves RAW formats
78
focusing manually
decent MP (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography features
Sony A77 Street photography features
85
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
comes with touch focus
good high ISO (25,600)
75
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography factors
Sony A77 Sports photography factors
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect auto focus
74
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
environment proof
supports phase detect autofocus
not so great battery life (470 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography info
Sony A77 Travel photography info
75
comes with touch focus
resolution is good (16MP)
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Timelapse recording
63
environment proof
decent MP (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
no Timelapse function
not so great battery life (470 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography information
Sony A77 Landscape photography information
74
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
lack of Timelapse recording
71
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
not so great battery life (470 per charge)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging highlights
Sony A77 Vlogging highlights
78
screen is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lack of external microphone jack
76
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with microphone port
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony A77 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Sony A77
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Sony SLT-A77
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL5 Sony SLT-A77
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2012-09-17 2011-10-25
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 25600 16000
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 50
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 35 19
Cross type focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 107 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames per sec 12.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 secs 1/250 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, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 325 gr (0.72 pounds) 732 gr (1.61 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 143 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 78
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 24.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 13.2
DXO Low light rating 889 801
Other
Battery life 360 images 470 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $400 $900