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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic F5

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5 front
Portability
96
Imaging
38
Features
23
Overall
32

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic F5 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Released February 2018
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL8
Panasonic F5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.2-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 97 x 58 x 22mm
  • Launched January 2013
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic F5 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic F5, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the F5 (14MP) is pretty close but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and F5 (1/2.3") possess different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL9 was brought out 5 years later than the F5 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic F5 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a complete comparison, below is a short introduction of how the E-PL9 grades against the F5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Panasonic F5

 E-PL9 F5 
LaunchedFebruary 2018January 2013More recent by 62 months
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kSharper screen (+810k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic F5 over the Olympus E-PL9

 F5 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic F5

 E-PL9 F5 
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic F5 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL9 comes with physical dimensions of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") along with a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) whilst the Panasonic F5 has sizing of 97mm x 58mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") along with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic F5 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using during that time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PL9 and the F5.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic F5 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL9 and F5 is 85 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic F5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic F5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to visualize the gap in sensor measurements just by viewing specs. The visual here might offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL9 and F5.

All in all, both of those cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL9 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-PL9 will result in extra detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The fresher E-PL9 should have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic F5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic F5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic F5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL9
Portrait photography with Panasonic F5
73
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
29
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic F5 as a Street photography camera
84
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
supports focus via touch
56
lighter than competitors (121 grams)
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL9
Sports photography with Panasonic F5
69
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect AF
33
MP count decent (14MP)
supports tracking focus
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography features
Panasonic F5 Travel photography features
77
supports bluetooth
supports focus via touch
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
does not have a selfie friendly display
68
lighter than competitors (121 grams)
MP count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL9
Landscape photography with Panasonic F5
80
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
33
pretty wide (28mm)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic F5 Vlogging highlights
35
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly display
missing external microphone support
28
pretty wide (28mm)
lighter than competitors (121g)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic support
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic F5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic F5
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2018-02-08 2013-01-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VIII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Highest enhanced ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 121 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.2-6.5
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 1,040k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Max silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter rate 8.6fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 5.70 m
Flash options Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 380g (0.84 lbs) 121g (0.27 lbs)
Dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 97 x 58 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 350 pictures 250 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $599 $100