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Olympus E-5 Review

  • Overview
  • Alternatives
  • Lenses
  • Olympus E-5

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    Main Features

    • 12MP - Four Thirds CMOS Sensor
    • ISO 100 - 6400
    • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
    • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
    • Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder
    • 5 fps continuous shooting
    • HD - 1280 x 720 video
    • 800g. 143 x 117 x 75 mm
    • Weather Sealed Body
    • Replaced Olympus E-3
    CHECK PRICE
    CHECK PRICE

    Olympus E-5 Overview

    First introduced in February 2011 , Olympus E-5 is a 12.0MP Advanced DSLR camera with a Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm ) sized CMOS sensor, built-in Image Stabilization, Fully articulated screen and Four Thirds lens mount. Olympus replaced the older E-3 with this model. Follow the link to read our detailed comparison of these models:
    Compare Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-3

    Olympus E-5 Review - Click for Table of Contents

    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. Lens Mount and Lenses
    4. Sensor and Photography Features
    5. Physical Specs
    6. LCD and Viewfinder
    7. Connectivity, Storage and Battery
    8. Video
    9. Other Features
    10. Photography Type Scores
    11. Alternatives
    12. Popular Comparisons
    13. Frequently Asked Questions
    14. Detailed Specifications

    Olympus E-5 has an Overall Score of 65/100 and ranked #75 out of 206 in DSLR cameras (Top 10 DSLR), and ranked #223 out of 1223 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

    Main Scores
    Imaging
    Features
    Value for Money
    Portability
    Overall Score
    Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras.



    Olympus E-5 Physical Specs
    Olympus E-5 weighs 800 g (1.76 lb / 28.22 oz) and has external dimensions of 143 x 117 x 75 mm (5.63 x 4.61 x 2.95″). Considering that the average weight of DSLR type cameras is 774g, its weight is about average in its class. With a thickness of 75mm, it also has an average thickness.
    Weight Comparison

    DSLR Cameras

    Olympus E-5
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    Thickness Comparison

    DSLR Cameras

    Olympus E-5
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    Here is the front and top view image of Olympus E-5 with the dimensions:

    Olympus E-5 Body Size Dimensions
    Front and Top View External Dimensions and Size of Olympus E-5 Camera Body

    In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Olympus E-5, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.


    Olympus E-5 Body Size Compared to a Credit card and a Battery
    Physical size of the Olympus E-5 Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery

    Now let's compare Olympus E-5 size with the camera that it replaced: Olympus E-3. Olympus E-3 is 1mm narrower and 1mm shorter than Olympus E-5 but they have the same thickness of 75mm.


    Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-3 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
    Comparison image of Olympus E-5 and Olympus E-3 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

    Below you can find the comparison of the weight and thickness of Olympus E-5 with its main competitors:

    Olympus E-5 Size Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Weight vs E-5 Thickness vs E-5
    Olympus E-5 Camera Olympus E-3
    Compare
    890g 90g heavier 75mm equal thickness
    Olympus E-5 Camera Olympus E-30
    Compare
    695g 105g lighter 75mm equal thickness
    Olympus E-5 Camera Olympus E-M1
    Compare
    497g 303g lighter 63mm 12mm thinner
    Olympus E-5 Camera Olympus E-620
    Compare
    500g 300g lighter 60mm 15mm thinner
    Olympus E-5 Camera Olympus E-1
    Compare
    735g 65g lighter 81mm 6mm thicker
    Olympus E-5 Camera Olympus E-520
    Compare
    552g 248g lighter 68mm 7mm thinner
    Olympus E-5 Camera Olympus E-M1 II
    Compare
    574g 226g lighter 67mm 8mm thinner
    Olympus E-5 Camera Olympus E-M5 II
    Compare
    469g 331g lighter 45mm 30mm thinner

    Weather Sealing

    Olympus E-5 has environmental sealings on its body which makes it a weather resistant camera, providing resistance against the water and dust getting in to the camera. If you like outdoors photography and want to be able to use your camera in extreme conditions, Olympus E-5 will serve you well. If you attach one of these Olympus E-5 weather Sealed lenses to your camera, you will have a great all weather kit.

    Olympus E-5 Sensor and Photography Features

    Olympus E-5 has a 12.0MP Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features TruePic V+ processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 4032 x 3024 pixels with aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9. E-5 has a native ISO range of 100 - 6400 and it can save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

    Olympus E-5 is not the highest resolution Four Thirds camera. Panasonic G95 with its 20.3MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic G95 or take a look at Highest resolution DSLR cameras list.

    Olympus E-5 DxOMark Sensor Scores

    DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. Olympus E-5 sensor has been tested by DxO Mark and got an overall score of 56 for its image quality. You can find the details of their analysis of Olympus E-5 here.

    Let's look at how the size of the Olympus E-5's Four Thirds sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

    Olympus E-5 Sensor Size Comparison
    Comparison image of Olympus E-5 Sensor Size with other standard sensors

    Olympus E-5 Lens Mount and Lenses

    Olympus E-5 has a Four Thirds lens mount and currently there are 45 native lenses available for this mount. Unfortunately Four Thirds mount is not supported by any manufacturer anymore so no new lenses will be introduced.

    E-5 also has a Sensor based Image Stabilization system which means that all of these lenses will be stabilized when used on E-5. Sensor based image stabilization is one of the most useful features that you can have in an ILC. There are also 13 lenses with weather sealing for E-5 that you can couple with its weather sealed body.

    Here are some of the most popular Olympus E-5 Lenses on Camera Decision:

    Popular Four Thirds Mount Lenses for Olympus E-5
    Model Focal Length on E-5 Coverage Weight Focusing Street Price
    Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 70-300mm f4.0-5.6 Lens Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 70-300mm f4.0-5.6
    140-600mm FourThirds 620gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Olympus Zuiko Digital 25mm f2.8 Pancake Lens Olympus Zuiko Digital 25mm f2.8 Pancake
    50mm FourThirds 95gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Olympus Zuiko Digital 17.5-45mm f3.5-5.6 Lens Olympus Zuiko Digital 17.5-45mm f3.5-5.6
    36-90mm FourThirds 210gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Panasonic Leica D Summilux Asph 25mm F1.4 Lens Panasonic Leica D Summilux Asph 25mm F1.4
    50mm FourThirds 510gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 18-180mm f3.5-6.3 Lens Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 18-180mm f3.5-6.3
    36-360mm FourThirds 435gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 90-250mm f2.8 Lens Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 90-250mm f2.8
    180-500mm FourThirds 3270gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 35-100mm f2.0 Lens Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 35-100mm f2.0
    70-200mm FourThirds 1650gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Panasonic Leica D Vario-Elmar 14-150mm F3.5-5.6 Asph Mega OIS Lens Panasonic Leica D Vario-Elmar 14-150mm F3.5-5.6 Asph Mega OIS
    28-300mm FourThirds 520gr AF Amazon B&H Photo

    Check our Olympus E-5 Lenses page for more detailed lens search.



    Olympus E-5 LCD and Viewfinder

    Olympus E-5 has a Fully Articulated 3" LCD screen with a resolution of 920k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.



    Olympus E-5 back view and LCD

    For those of you who loves shooting selfies, self or group photos, Olympus E-5 will make your life easier with its Selfie friendly screen. Another group of users who will take advantage of E-5's LCD screen are Vloggers and any video creators who are working in a single-person setup.


    E-5 has a built-in Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder, making it easier to shoot in direct sunlight and in other situations where it might be difficult to view the LCD monitor. The viewfinder has a coverage of 100% and a magnification ratio of 0.58x. 100% coverage ensures that what you see in the viewfinder while shooting matches exactly what you will get later in your image, helping accurate framing your shots and minimizes the need for cropping images later.

    Olympus E-5 Connectivity, Storage and Battery

    You can connect E-5 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.

    Battery

    Olympus E-5 is powered by battery which provides a shooting life of 870 according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of DSLR type cameras is 943 shots, its battery life is about average in its class but it would still be wise to invest in some spare batteries for long photo trips.

    Battery Life Comparison in Advanced DSLR Cameras

    Olympus E-5
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Nikon D780 with its 2260shots is the model with longest battery life among Advanced DSLR cameras. Check the comparison of Olympus E-5 vs Nikon D780 or take a look at Longest Battery Life DSLR cameras list.

    Olympus E-5 Features Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Max Video Battery Life Wi-fi Bluetooth NFC
    Olympus E-5 Camera Olympus E-3
    Compare
    None shots No No No
    Olympus E-5 Camera Olympus E-30
    Compare
    None 750shots No No No
    Olympus E-5 Camera Olympus E-M1
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 350shots Yes No No
    Olympus E-5 Camera Olympus E-620
    Compare
    None 500shots No No No
    Olympus E-5 Camera Olympus E-1
    Compare
    None shots No No No
    Olympus E-5 Camera Olympus E-520
    Compare
    None 650shots No No No
    Olympus E-5 Camera Olympus E-M1 II
    Compare
    4096 x 2160 350shots Yes No No
    Olympus E-5 Camera Olympus E-M5 II
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 310shots Yes No No

    Olympus E-5 Video Features

    With Olympus E-5, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1280 x 720 at 30 fps and save in and Motion JPEG formats. 1280 x 720 is a low video resolution by todays standards. If video quality is important for you, we recommend you to look at cameras with Full HD, even better 4K / Ultra-HD resolution .

    E-5 has a built-in Stereo microphone and a None speaker. Olympus E-5 also has a port for an external microphone so you can record high quality sound with the help of an external microphone.

    Olympus E-5 Other Features

    Max Shutter speed

    Olympus E-5 can shoot continuously at max speed of 5 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/8000 sec.

    Flash

    E-5 has a built-in flash, and it also has a flash shoe to mount your external flashes too.

    Focusing

    Olympus E-5 features both Contrast Detection and Phase Detection autofocus (AF) systems which ensures speed and accuracy of focusing in most situations. The AF system has 11 focus points and 11 of these sensors are of Cross-type. Cross-type sensors locks focus faster and more accurate compared to single type sensors.

    Olympus E-5 also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

    Olympus E-5 PROs and CONs Review

    Now let's get in to more details of our Olympus E-5 review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

    PROs
    Image Stabilization
    Articulating Screen
    Optical Built-in Viewfinder
    Face Detection Focusing
    11 Focus Points
    920k dots LCD Resolution
    1/8000s High Shutter Speed
    Long Battery Life (870 shots)
    External Microphone Port
    Environmental Sealing
    11 Cross Type Focus Points
    2 Storage Slots
    Top LCD Display
    Flash Sync Port
    AF Micro Adjustment (Fine Tune)
    Selfie & Vlogger Friendly LCD Screen
    Report a correction

    Buy Olympus E-5 from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO


    CONs
    No Wireless Connection
    No Full HD Video
    No Touch Screen
    0.58x magnification - Small Viewfinder
    Low Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
    Heavy Body: 800g
    Poor Low Light Performance
    Report a correction
    What type of Photography is Olympus E-5 Good for?
    In this section, we review and score Olympus E-5 in 5 different photography areas.

    Olympus E-5 for Portrait Photography

    Olympus E-5 has a score of 63 for Portrait Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Portrait Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 DSLR Cameras for Portrait Photography list.
    Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
    Image Stabilization
    Optical Built-in Viewfinder
    Good Ergonomics&Handling
    Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP

    Read the details of how we scored Olympus E-5 for Portrait Photography

    Olympus E-5 for Street Photography

    Olympus E-5 has a score of 85 for Street Photography which makes it an EXCELLENT candidate for this type of photography.
    Optical Built-in Viewfinder
    Live-view
    Face-Detection Focusing
    Fully Articulated LCD Screen
    Image Stabilization
    Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
    Large Body

    Read the details of how we scored Olympus E-5 for Street Photography

    Olympus E-5 for Sports Photography

    Olympus E-5 has a score of 79 for Sports Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Sports Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 DSLR Cameras for Sports Photography list.
    Environmental Sealings
    Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
    11 Cross Type Focus sensors
    11 Focus Points
    Good Battery Life: 870 shots
    Good Ergonomics&Handling
    Optical Built-in Viewfinder
    Image Stabilization
    Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps

    Read the details of how we scored Olympus E-5 for Sports Photography

    Olympus E-5 for Daily Photography

    Olympus E-5 has a score of 59 for Daily Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Daily is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top DSLR Cameras for Daily Photography list.
    Environmental Sealings
    Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
    Large Body
    800g
    Body Thickness 75mm

    Read the details of how we scored Olympus E-5 for Daily Photography

    Olympus E-5 for Landscape Photography

    Olympus E-5 has a score of 36 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top DSLR Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theE-5.
    Live-view
    Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
    Environmental Sealings
    Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP

    Read the details of how we scored Olympus E-5 for Landscape Photography
    Olympus E-5 Alternatives
    In this section, we analyse how Olympus E-5 compares with other DSLR cameras within a similar price range.
    Read a more detailed analysis of Olympus E-5 alternatives.

    Popular Comparisons of Olympus E-5

    Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Olympus E-5 amongst Camera Decision readers.

    Olympus E-3
    Olympus E-3
    Compare
    Olympus E-30
    Olympus E-30
    Compare
    Olympus E-M1
    Olympus E-M1
    Compare
    Olympus E-620
    Olympus E-620
    Compare
    Olympus E-1
    Olympus E-1
    Compare
    Olympus E-520
    Olympus E-520
    Compare
    Olympus E-M1 II
    Olympus E-M1 II
    Compare
    Olympus E-M5 II
    Olympus E-M5 II
    Compare

    Olympus E-5 Alternatives in Mirrorless Cameras

    It would also be interesting to compare Olympus E-5 with Mirrorless Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked Mirrorless cameras in Olympus E-5's price range.

    Canon M50 II
    Canon M50 II
    Compare
    Fujifilm X-T200
    Fujifilm X-T200
    Compare
    Canon M50
    Canon M50
    Compare
    Panasonic G85
    Panasonic G85
    Compare
    Panasonic GX8
    Panasonic GX8
    Compare
    Olympus E-M5 II
    Olympus E-M5 II
    Compare
    Fujifilm X-A7
    Fujifilm X-A7
    Compare
    Olympus E-M10 II
    Olympus E-M10 II
    Compare
    Frequently Asked Questions about Olympus E-5
    Does the Olympus E-5 have Image Stabilization?
    Does the Olympus E-5 have RAW support?
    Does the Olympus E-5 have Weather Sealing?
    Does the Olympus E-5 have built-in GPS?
    What is the Max ISO of Olympus E-5?
    What is the Sensor Size of Olympus E-5?
    is the Olympus E-5 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
    Does the Olympus E-5 have Touch Screen?
    Does the Olympus E-5 have built-in Wireless?
    What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Olympus E-5?
    What is the Weight of Olympus E-5?
    What are the Dimensions of Olympus E-5?
    Olympus E-5 Detailed Specifications

    General
    Brand Olympus
    Model Olympus E-5
    Announced 2011-02-03
    Body Type Mid-size SLR
    Lens
    Manual Focus
    Lens Mount Four Thirds
    Number of Lenses 45
    Focal Length Multiplier 2×
    Macro Focus Range n/a
    Screen
    Screen Type Fully Articulated
    Screen Technology HyperCrystal transmissive LCD
    Screen Size 3"
    Screen Resolution 920k dots
    Live View
    Touch Screen
    Viewfinder
    Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism)
    Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Coverage 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.58x
    Photography Features
    Min Shutter Speed 60s
    Max Mechanical Shutter Speed 1/8000s
    Continuous Shooting 5.0 fps
    Shutter Priority
    Aperture Priority
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Exposure Compensation Yes
    Custom White Balance
    Image Stabilization
    Built-in Flash
    Flash Range 18.00 m (at ISO 200)
    Max Flash Sync 1/250s
    Flash Modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in
    External Flash
    AE Bracketing
    WB Bracketing
    Exposure Modes
    Multi-Segment
    Average
    Spot
    Partial
    AF-Area
    Center Weighted
    DxO Sensor Scores
    DxO Overall Score 56
    DxO Color Depth 21.6
    DxO Dynamic Range 10.5
    DxO Low Light ISO 519
    Report a correction

    Sensor
    Sensor Type CMOS
    Sensor Size Four Thirds
    Sensor Dimensions 17.3 x 13 mm
    Sensor Area 224.90mm2
    Sensor Resolution 12 megapixels
    Max Image Resolution 4032 x 3024
    Max Native ISO 6,400
    Min Native ISO 100
    RAW Support
    Autofocus
    AF Touch
    AF Continuous
    AF Single
    AF Tracking
    AF Selective
    AF Center
    AF Multi Area
    AF Live View
    AF Face Detection
    AF Contrast Detection
    AF Phase Detection
    Number of Focus Points 11
    Number of Cross Focus Points 11
    Video Features
    Video Resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
    Max Video Resolution 1280 x 720
    Video Formats Motion JPEG
    Microphone Port
    Headphone Port
    Connectivity
    Wireless Connectivity None
    HDMI
    USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
    Physical
    Environmental Sealing
    Water Proof
    Dust Proof
    Shock Proof
    Crush Proof
    Freeze Proof
    Weight 800g
    Physical Dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm
    Battery Life 870 shots
    Battery Type Battery Pack
    Battery Model BLM-5
    Other Features
    Self Timer Yes (2 or 12 sec)
    Timelapse Recording
    GPS None
    Storage Type Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC
    Storage Slots 2


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