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Olympus E-PL5 Review

  • Overview
  • Alternatives
  • Lenses
  • Olympus E-PL5

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    Main Features

    • 16MP - Four Thirds CMOS Sensor
    • ISO 200 - 25600
    • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
    • 3" Tilting Screen
    • 8 fps continuous shooting
    • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video
    • 325g. 111 x 64 x 38 mm
    • Replaced
    CHECK PRICE
    CHECK PRICE

    Olympus E-PL5 Overview

    First introduced in September 2012 , Olympus PEN E-PL5 is a 16.0MP Entry-Level Mirrorless camera with a Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm ) sized CMOS sensor, built-in Image Stabilization , Tilting touch screen and Micro Four Thirds lens mount. Olympus replaced the older with this model. Follow the link to read our detailed comparison of these models:
    Compare Olympus PEN E-PL5 vs

    Olympus E-PL5 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-PL5 is a member of Olympus's PEN E-PL series of cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this series and how their main specs have changed with each new version.

    Olympus PEN E-PL Series History
    Model Release Date Sensor Max FPS Dimensions Weight
    Olympus E-PL9
    Compare
    2018 16.0MP - Four Thirds 8.6 fps 117 x 68 x 39mm 380g
    Olympus E-PL8
    Compare
    2016 16.0MP - Four Thirds 8.0 fps 115 x 67 x 38mm 357g
    Olympus E-PL7
    Compare
    2014 16.0MP - Four Thirds 8.0 fps 115 x 67 x 38mm 357g
    Olympus E-PL6
    Compare
    2014 16.0MP - Four Thirds 8.0 fps 111 x 64 x 38mm 325g
    Olympus E-PL5
    2012 16.0MP - Four Thirds 8.0 fps 111 x 64 x 38mm 325g

    Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series:
    Olympus E-PL9 vs E-PL8 vs E-PL7 vs E-PL6 vs E-PL5

    Olympus E-PL5 has an Overall Score of 61/100 and ranked #122 out of 211 in Mirrorless cameras (Top 10 Mirrorless), and ranked #283 out of 1220 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-PL5 Physical Specs
    Olympus E-PL5 weighs 325 g (0.72 lb / 11.46 oz) and has external dimensions of 111 x 64 x 38 mm (4.37 x 2.52 x 1.5″). Considering that the average weight of Mirrorless type cameras is 442g, Olympus E-PL5 is a remarkably light camera for its class. Even better, with a thickness of only 38mm, it is also quite small, 12mm thinner than the average of its class.
    Weight Comparison

    Mirrorless Cameras

    Olympus E-PL5
    Min
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    Max
    Thickness Comparison

    Mirrorless Cameras

    Olympus E-PL5
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    Average
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    Here is the front and top view image of Olympus E-PL5 with the dimensions:

    Olympus E-PL5 Body Size Dimensions
    Front and Top View External Dimensions and Size of Olympus E-PL5 Camera Body

    In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Olympus E-PL5, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.


    Olympus E-PL5 Body Size Compared to a Credit card and a Battery
    Physical size of the Olympus E-PL5 Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery

    Now lets compare the weight and thickness of Olympus E-PL5 with its main competitors:

    Olympus E-PL5 Size Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Weight vs E-PL5 Thickness vs E-PL5
    Olympus PEN E-PL5 Camera Olympus E-P5
    Compare
    420g 95g heavier 37mm 1mm thinner
    Olympus PEN E-PL5 Camera Olympus E-PL6
    Compare
    325g equal weight 38mm equal thickness
    Olympus PEN E-PL5 Camera Olympus E-PL7
    Compare
    357g 32g heavier 38mm equal thickness
    Olympus PEN E-PL5 Camera Olympus E-M10
    Compare
    396g 71g heavier 46mm 8mm thicker
    Olympus PEN E-PL5 Camera Olympus E-PL8
    Compare
    357g 32g heavier 38mm equal thickness
    Olympus PEN E-PL5 Camera Olympus E-PL9
    Compare
    380g 55g heavier 39mm 1mm thicker
    Olympus PEN E-PL5 Camera Olympus E-PM2
    Compare
    269g 56g lighter 34mm 4mm thinner
    Olympus PEN E-PL5 Camera Olympus E-PL3
    Compare
    313g 12g lighter 37mm 1mm thinner

    Weather Sealing

    Olympus E-PL5 doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Mirrorless Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

    Olympus E-PL5 Sensor and Photography Features

    Olympus E-PL5 has a 16.0MP Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm ) sized CMOS sensor . You can shoot at maximum resolution of 4608 x 3456 pixels with aspect ratios of and 4:3. E-PL5 has a native ISO range of 200 - 25600 and it can save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

    Olympus E-PL5 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-PL5 vs Panasonic G95 or take a look at Highest resolution Mirrorless cameras list.

    Olympus E-PL5 DxOMark Sensor Scores

    DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. Olympus E-PL5 sensor has been tested by DxO Mark and got an overall score of 72 for its image quality. You can find the details of their analysis of Olympus E-PL5 here.

    Let's look at how the size of the Olympus E-PL5's Four Thirds sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

    Olympus E-PL5 Sensor Size Comparison
    Comparison image of Olympus E-PL5 Sensor Size with other standard sensors

    Olympus E-PL5 Lens Mount and Lenses

    Olympus E-PL5 has a Micro Four Thirds lens mount and currently there are 107 native lenses available for this mount. MFT is the most mature and versatile mount in the Mirrorles camera world. Olympus MFT lenses are known by their high optical quality and affordable prices. Other main contributor of the system, Panasonic also offers similarly well regarded lenses. Third party lens manufacturers also increase number of their offering and new manufacturers also jump in the wagon as the popularity of the system increases.

    E-PL5 also has a Sensor based Image Stabilization system which means that all of these lenses will be stabilized when used on E-PL5. Sensor based image stabilization is one of the most useful features that you can have in an ILC. There are also 33 lenses with weather sealing for E-PL5 but bear in mind that E-PL5 body doesn't have weather sealings.

    Here are some of the most popular Olympus E-PL5 Lenses on Camera Decision:

    Popular Micro Four Thirds Mount Lenses for Olympus E-PL5
    Model Focal Length on E-PL5 Coverage Weight Focusing Street Price
    Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH Power OIS Lens Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH Power OIS
    24-120mm FourThirds 210gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-140mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH.  Power O.I.S Lens Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-140mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH. Power O.I.S
    28-280mm FourThirds 265gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f2.8 PRO Lens Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f2.8 PRO
    24-80mm FourThirds 382gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Panasonic Lumix G 25mm F1.7 ASPH Lens Panasonic Lumix G 25mm F1.7 ASPH
    50mm FourThirds 125gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Olympus 9mm F8 Fish-Eye Body Cap Lens Lens Olympus 9mm F8 Fish-Eye Body Cap Lens
    18mm FourThirds 30gr MF Amazon B&H Photo
    Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 25mm F1.8 Lens Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 25mm F1.8
    50mm FourThirds 136gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm F2.8 ASPH Power OIS Lens Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm F2.8 ASPH Power OIS
    24-70mm FourThirds 305gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 35-100mm F2.8 OIS Lens Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 35-100mm F2.8 OIS
    70-200mm FourThirds 360gr AF Amazon B&H Photo

    Check our Olympus E-PL5 Lenses page for more detailed lens search.



    Olympus E-PL5 LCD

    Olympus E-PL5 has a Tilting 3" LCD screen with a resolution of 460k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.

    LCD is Touch screen type, so you can change the settings and set the focus point with your fingertips.

    Olympus E-PL5 back view and LCD

    For those of you who loves shooting selfies, self or group photos, Olympus E-PL5 will make your life easier with its Selfie friendly screen. Another group of users who will take advantage of E-PL5's LCD screen are Vloggers and any video creators who are working in a single-person setup.


    E-PL5 doesn't have a built-in viewfinder but an optional external viewfinder is available. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Mirrorless camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider Olympus OM-D E-M10 (Compare) or Fujifilm X-T1 (Compare).
    If the price is not an issue, take a look at our Top Rated Cameras with Viewfinders.

    Olympus E-PL5 Connectivity, Storage and Battery

    You can connect E-PL5 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.

    Battery

    Olympus E-PL5 is powered by battery which provides a shooting life of 360 according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of Mirrorless type cameras is 369 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 Entry-Level Mirrorless Cameras

    Olympus E-PL5
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Samsung NX mini with its 650shots is the model with longest battery life among Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras. Check the comparison of Olympus E-PL5 vs Samsung NX mini or take a look at Longest Battery Life Mirrorless cameras list.

    Olympus E-PL5 Features Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Max Video Battery Life Wi-fi Bluetooth NFC
    Olympus PEN E-PL5 Camera Olympus E-P5
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 330shots Yes No No
    Olympus PEN E-PL5 Camera Olympus E-PL6
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 360shots No No No
    Olympus PEN E-PL5 Camera Olympus E-PL7
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 350shots Yes No No
    Olympus PEN E-PL5 Camera Olympus E-M10
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 320shots Yes No No
    Olympus PEN E-PL5 Camera Olympus E-PL8
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 350shots Yes No No
    Olympus PEN E-PL5 Camera Olympus E-PL9
    Compare
    3840 x 2160 350shots Yes Yes No
    Olympus PEN E-PL5 Camera Olympus E-PM2
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 360shots No No No
    Olympus PEN E-PL5 Camera Olympus E-PL3
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 300shots No No No

    Olympus E-PL5 Video Features

    With Olympus E-PL5, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 30 fps and save in MPEG-4, H.264 and Motion JPEG formats. Full HD resolution of Olympus E-PL5 will be adequate in most of the situations. But if you are after the highest resolution videos available, see our list of Top Cameras with 4K (Ultra-HD) Video.

    E-PL5 has a built-in Stereo microphone and a Mono speaker.
    Olympus E-PL5 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Mirrorless camera with external microphone connectivity, consider Fujifilm X-T1 or Canon EOS M3 in a similar price range.

    Olympus E-PL5 Other Features

    Max Shutter speed

    Olympus E-PL5 can shoot continuously at max speed of 8 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/4000 sec.

    Flash

    Unfortunately E-PL5 doesn't have a built-in flash but it has a flash shoe for mounting external flashes and Olympus also includes a small external flash with the E-PL5 that you can mount on when you need.

    Focusing

    Olympus E-PL5 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 35 points to choose from.

    Olympus E-PL5 also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

    Olympus E-PL5 PROs and CONs Review

    Now let's get in to more details of our Olympus E-PL5 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
    Full HD Video
    Touch Screen
    Electronic (Optional) Optional Viewfinder
    Face Detection Focusing
    25.600 Max ISO
    35 Focus Points
    8.0fps Shooting w/ Mechanical Shutter
    325g Light Body
    Panorama Shooting
    Flash Sync Port
    Selfie & Vlogger Friendly LCD Screen
    Report a correction

    Buy Olympus E-PL5 from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO


    CONs
    No Wireless Connection
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    x magnification - Small Viewfinder
    Low Screen Resolution ( 460kdots )
    Low Battery Life: 360 shots
    No Environmental Sealing
    Report a correction
    What type of Photography is Olympus E-PL5 Good for?
    In this section, we review and score Olympus E-PL5 in 5 different photography areas.

    Olympus E-PL5 for Portrait Photography

    Olympus E-PL5 has a score of 61 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 Mirrorless Cameras for Portrait Photography list.
    Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
    Image Stabilization
    Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
    Average Ergonomics&Handling

    Read the details of how we scored Olympus E-PL5 for Portrait Photography

    Olympus E-PL5 for Street Photography

    Olympus E-PL5 has a score of 85 for Street Photography which makes it an EXCELLENT candidate for this type of photography.
    Live-view
    Face-Detection Focusing
    Tilting LCD Screen
    Image Stabilization
    Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
    Medium sized Body

    Read the details of how we scored Olympus E-PL5 for Street Photography

    Olympus E-PL5 for Sports Photography

    Olympus E-PL5 has a score of 61 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 Mirrorless Cameras for Sports Photography list.
    Fast Continuous Shooting: 8.0fps
    Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
    35 Focus Points
    Image Stabilization
    Average Ergonomics&Handling
    Environmental Sealings

    Read the details of how we scored Olympus E-PL5 for Sports Photography

    Olympus E-PL5 for Daily Photography

    Olympus E-PL5 has a score of 71 for Daily Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Daily Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Mirrorless Cameras for Daily Photography list.
    Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
    Medium size Body
    325g

    Read the details of how we scored Olympus E-PL5 for Daily Photography

    Olympus E-PL5 for Landscape Photography

    Olympus E-PL5 has a score of 38 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top Mirrorless Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theE-PL5.
    Live-view
    Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
    Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
    No Environmental Sealings

    Read the details of how we scored Olympus E-PL5 for Landscape Photography
    Olympus E-PL5 Alternatives
    In this section, we analyse how Olympus E-PL5 compares with other Mirrorless cameras within a similar price range.
    Read a more detailed analysis of Olympus E-PL5 alternatives.

    Popular Comparisons of Olympus E-PL5

    Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Olympus E-PL5 amongst Camera Decision readers.

    Olympus E-P5
    Olympus E-P5
    Compare
    Olympus E-PL6
    Olympus E-PL6
    Compare
    Olympus E-PL7
    Olympus E-PL7
    Compare
    Olympus E-M10
    Olympus E-M10
    Compare
    Olympus E-PL8
    Olympus E-PL8
    Compare
    Olympus E-PL9
    Olympus E-PL9
    Compare
    Olympus E-PM2
    Olympus E-PM2
    Compare
    Olympus E-PL3
    Olympus E-PL3
    Compare

    Olympus E-PL5 Alternatives in DSLR Cameras

    It would also be interesting to compare Olympus E-PL5 with DSLR Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked DSLR cameras in Olympus E-PL5's price range.

    Nikon D7100
    Nikon D7100
    Compare
    Pentax K-5
    Pentax K-5
    Compare
    Sony A55
    Sony A55
    Compare
    Sony A33
    Sony A33
    Compare
    Pentax K-50
    Pentax K-50
    Compare
    Pentax K-30
    Pentax K-30
    Compare
    Canon 650D
    Canon 650D
    Compare
    Pentax K-7
    Pentax K-7
    Compare
    Frequently Asked Questions about Olympus E-PL5
    Does the Olympus E-PL5 have Image Stabilization?
    Does the Olympus E-PL5 have RAW support?
    Does the Olympus E-PL5 have Weather Sealing?
    Does the Olympus E-PL5 have built-in GPS?
    What is the Max ISO of Olympus E-PL5?
    What is the Sensor Size of Olympus E-PL5?
    is the Olympus E-PL5 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
    Does the Olympus E-PL5 have Touch Screen?
    Does the Olympus E-PL5 have built-in Wireless?
    What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Olympus E-PL5?
    What is the Weight of Olympus E-PL5?
    What are the Dimensions of Olympus E-PL5?
    Olympus PEN E-PL5 Detailed Specifications

    General
    Brand Olympus
    Model Olympus PEN E-PL5
    Announced 2012-09-17
    Body Type Rangefinder-style mirrorless
    Lens
    Manual Focus
    Lens Mount Micro Four Thirds
    Number of Lenses 107
    Focal Length Multiplier 2×
    Macro Focus Range n/a
    Screen
    Screen Type Tilting
    Screen Size 3"
    Screen Resolution 460k dots
    Live View
    Touch Screen
    Viewfinder
    Viewfinder Electronic (optional)
    Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Coverage n/a
    Viewfinder Magnification n/a
    Photography Features
    Min Shutter Speed 60s
    Max Mechanical Shutter Speed 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 8.0 fps
    Shutter Priority
    Aperture Priority
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Exposure Compensation Yes
    Custom White Balance
    Image Stabilization
    Built-in Flash
    Flash Range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1)
    Max Flash Sync 1/250s
    Flash Modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
    External Flash
    AE Bracketing
    WB Bracketing
    Exposure Modes
    Multi-Segment
    Average
    Spot
    Partial
    AF-Area
    Center Weighted
    DxO Sensor Scores
    DxO Overall Score 72
    DxO Color Depth 22.8
    DxO Dynamic Range 12.3
    DxO Low Light ISO 889
    Report a correction

    Sensor
    Sensor Type CMOS
    Sensor Size Four Thirds
    Sensor Dimensions 17.3 x 13 mm
    Sensor Area 224.90mm2
    Sensor Resolution 16 megapixels
    Max Image Resolution 4608 x 3456
    Max Native ISO 25,600
    Min Native ISO 200
    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 35
    Number of Cross Focus Points Unknown
    Video Features
    Video Resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
    Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080
    Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
    Microphone Port
    Headphone Port
    Connectivity
    Wireless Connectivity Eye-Fi Connected
    HDMI
    USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
    Physical
    Environmental Sealing
    Water Proof
    Dust Proof
    Shock Proof
    Crush Proof
    Freeze Proof
    Weight 325g
    Physical Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm
    Battery Life 360 shots
    Battery Type Battery Pack
    Battery Model BLS-5
    Other Features
    Self Timer Yes (2 or 12 sec)
    Timelapse Recording
    GPS None
    Storage Type SD/SDHC/SDXC
    Storage Slots 1


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