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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic G5

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 front
Portability
74
Imaging
52
Features
66
Overall
57

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic G5 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
  • Revealed February 2018
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL8
Panasonic G5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 396g - 120 x 83 x 71mm
  • Released July 2012
  • Succeeded the Panasonic G3
  • Refreshed by Panasonic G6
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic G5 Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic G5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the G5 (16MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras offer the identical sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL9 was launched 5 years later than the G5 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic G5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting right into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick summation of how the E-PL9 matches up against the G5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Panasonic G5

 E-PL9 G5 
ReleasedFebruary 2018July 2012More recent by 68 months
Screen resolution1040k920kClearer screen (+120k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic G5 over the Olympus E-PL9

 G5 E-PL9 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic G5

 E-PL9 G5 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic G5 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you should factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL9 has got physical measurements of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") and a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) while the Panasonic G5 has dimensions of 120mm x 83mm x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic G5 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the E-PL9 and the G5.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic G5 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL9 and G5 is 85 and 74 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic G5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic G5 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's hard to envision the difference between sensor measurements merely by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph underneath might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL9 and G5.

Clearly, both the cameras come with the identical sensor size and the identical resolution and you should expect similar quality of photos though you might want to take the release date of the products into consideration. The more modern E-PL9 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic G5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic G5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic G5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL9
Portrait photography with Panasonic G5
73
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
saves RAW formats
71
manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography advice
Panasonic G5 Street photography advice
84
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
supports focus by touch
66
screen articulates fully
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
provides focus by touch
no image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (396g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic G5 as a Sports photography camera
69
quiet shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
51
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography advice
Panasonic G5 Travel photography advice
77
supports bluetooth
supports focus by touch
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
66
provides focus by touch
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition in class (396g)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography details
Panasonic G5 Landscape photography details
80
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
65
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging advice
Panasonic G5 Vlogging advice
35
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
no external mic jack
62
selfie friendly display
touchscreen enabled
offers face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
no image stabilization
does not have external mic jack
heavier than competition in class (396g)
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic G5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic G5
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2018-02-08 2012-07-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII Venus Engine VII FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 200 160
RAW format
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 121 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,040k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting speed 8.6fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 10.50 m
Flash settings Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25fps
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 380g (0.84 lb) 396g (0.87 lb)
Physical dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 120 x 83 x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 61
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.6
DXO Low light score not tested 618
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 320 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $599 $699