Olympus
PEN E-PL5
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-G5

Updated (April, 2013): Compare the Olympus PEN E-PL5 vs Panasonic Lumix G6

Olympus PEN E-PL5

86

  
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5

71

  

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-PL5

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
72.0
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Color depth
 Great color depth
22.8 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.3 EV
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
25,600 ISO
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
600 ms startup delay
 

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5

Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Digital
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.67x
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Lens
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
20 fps
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Viewfinder coverage
 Great viewfinder coverage
100%
 

differences

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-PL5
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 889 ISO vs 618 ISO
Help
 The PEN E-PL5 has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Overall image quality Better image quality 72.0 vs 61.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Color depth Better color depth 22.8 bits vs 21.4 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.4 more bits of color
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
 The PEN E-PL5's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Size Much smaller 111x64x38 mm vs 120x83x71 mm
Help
 2.6x smaller
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.3 EV vs 11.6 EV
Help
 0.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Thickness Much thinner 1.5" vs 2.8"
Help
 Around 50% thinner
Startup delay Less startup delay 600 ms vs 1030 ms
Help
 More than 40% less delay when turning on
Battery life Longer battery life 360 shots vs 320 shots
Help
 More than 10% more shots per battery charge
Focus points Slightly more focus points 35 vs 23
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Weight Lighter 325 g vs 396 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
Olympus PEN E-PL5 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-PL5

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-G5
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Digital vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Movie continuous focus Continuous video focus Yes vs No
Help
 Record movies without worrying about focus
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 20 fps vs 8 fps
Help
 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Image stabilization Better image stabilization Lens vs Sensor shift
Help
 Less risk of blur
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $498.00 vs $853.84
Help
 The best price we've seen is $356 cheaper (more than 40% less)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-G5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Olympus PEN E-PL5 Olympus PEN E-PL5
86 vs 71
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Olympus PEN E-PL5.

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
PEN E-PL5:Sensor shift
DMC-G5:Lens
Touch screen Have touch screens Help
Less buttons
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
3D 3D photos Help
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Panorama In-camera panoramas Help
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
PEN E-PL5:600 ms
DMC-G5:1030 ms
External flash Each supports an external flash Help
Better lighting
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus OM-D E-M5

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$999 - $1,130 body only

$1,099 with 14-42mm lens
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Screen type Has an OLED screen
Weight Is slightly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the OM-D E-M5 vs the PEN E-PL5
Compare the OM-D E-M5 vs the Lumix DMC-G5
Olympus PEN E-P3

Olympus PEN E-P3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$369 with 14-42mm lens
Screen type Has an OLED screen
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
True resolution Takes slightly lower resolution photos
Compare the PEN E-P3 vs the PEN E-PL5
Compare the PEN E-P3 vs the Lumix DMC-G5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$239 - $249 body only

$399 - $419 with 14-42mm lens
Panorama Lacks a built in panoramas
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the PEN E-PL5
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Lumix DMC-G5
Panasonic Lumix G6

Panasonic Lumix G6

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$749 with 14-42mm lens
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Lumix G6 vs the PEN E-PL5
Compare the Lumix G6 vs the Lumix DMC-G5
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$650 - $699 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Lens availability Slightly fewer lenses available
Compare the NEX-5N vs the PEN E-PL5
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Lumix DMC-G5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 14-42mm lens
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF5 vs the PEN E-PL5
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF5 vs the Lumix DMC-G5
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the PEN E-PL5
Compare the D5100 vs the Lumix DMC-G5

Olympus PEN E-PL5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-PM2

Olympus PEN E-PM2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$767 with 14-42mm lens
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
Weight Lighter
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
3D Doesn't take 3D photos
Compare the PEN E-PM2 vs the PEN E-PL5
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$399 with 14-42mm lens
Movie continuous focus Continuous video focus
Lowest price Cheaper
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the PEN E-PL5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$499 body only
Size Significantly smaller
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Panorama Lacks in-camera panoramic stitching
Compare the Lumix DMC-G3 vs the Lumix DMC-G5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,298 body only

$2,599 with 12-35mm lens
Weather sealed Weather sealed
GPS Has a GPS
Panorama Lacks in-camera panoramic stitching
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Compare the Lumix DMC-GH3 vs the Lumix DMC-G5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200

Super zoom

$498
Battery life Much longer battery life
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Much worse image quality
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ200 vs the Lumix DMC-G5

appearance

Olympus PEN E-PL5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5
Olympus PEN E-PL5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5
Olympus PEN E-PL5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5

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