Olympus PEN E-PL5 Review | 108 Data compared

The Digitalkamera.de review of the Olympus Pen E-PL5 highlights its 16.1-megapixel CMOS sensor inherited from the OM-D E-M5, offering flagship-level image quality with excellent low-light performance. Key advantages include a fast-AF contrast-detection system, an impressive 8 frames per second burst speed, and a versatile Z-hinge 3-inch touchscreen for self-portraits or low-angle shooting. Conversely, the review notes ergonomic issues, such as the off-axis tripod mount that blocks the battery and SD card slot, and a 460,000-dot display with average resolution. Additional drawbacks include the lack of an internal flash and the absence of an in-camera panorama stitching tool.

The Olympus PEN E-PL5 review highlights a highly portable mirrorless camera that punches well above its weight class by adopting the acclaimed 16-megapixel image sensor from its more expensive sibling, the OM-D E-M5. Weighing just 279 grams for the body, this compact and lightweight system manages to deliver flagship-level image quality and excellent low-light performance at a fraction of the cost. The review praises its physical design, emphasizing the well-engineered combination of manual control wheels and a versatile, tilting 3-inch touchscreen display. This screen flips completely forward, making it useful for stabilizing ground-level compositions, overhead shooting, or framing self-portraits. Users can also tap the monitor to focus and trigger the shutter directly. YouTube · However, the camera’s performance is heavily constrained by your choice of optics. When paired with the standard M.Zuiko 14-42mm 3.5-5.6 II kit zoom lens, the overall footprint swells significantly, and the standard €699 bundle price feels steep for what you get. While alternative choices like the ultra-flat 15mm f/8 "Body Cap Lens" offer extreme pocketability and a budget-friendly price of €66, the review notes a severe...

Overview and Performance The Olympus Pen E-PL5 is a compact mirrorless camera (DSLM) that delivers outstanding image quality by inheriting the 16-megapixel Micro Four Thirds sensor from the higher-end OM-D E-M5 model. It represents a massive upgrade over its predecessor, the E-PL3, by significantly reducing image noise up to ISO 3,200 and offering an impressive dynamic range of up to eleven f-stops. The camera is exceptionally fast and fully snapshot-ready, boasting rapid autofocus speeds of 0.27 seconds in daylight and 0.48 seconds in low light, alongside a burst mode that captures over eight photos per second. Additionally, it features a 3-inch tiltable touchscreen, support for Full HD video recording at 30 fps, and 12 creative "Art Filters". Pros and Cons Image Quality: Excellent 16MP resolution yielding high image sharpness and low noise up to ISO 3,200. Speed: Highly responsive, rapid autofocus in all lighting situations and fast burst shooting. Design: Compact body with a sharp, tiltable touchscreen and a useful, detachable handgrip. Menu System: Outdated and confusing menu interface crowded with too many abbreviations. No Built-in Flash: Lacks an internal...

The Olympus PEN E-PL5 is a 15.9-megapixel mirrorless system camera that shares advanced technology with the higher-end OM-D series. Key benefits of the camera include excellent low-light performance with minimal image noise, high input dynamics to handle high-contrast scenes, and a highly flexible tiltable display that aids in difficult shooting angles. It features very fast operating speeds, user-friendly menu navigation, and a helpful clip-on flash included in the box. Additionally, it supports unique wireless transfers via Toshiba FlashAir cards, which act as independent Wi-Fi hotspots. Despite its strong performance, the camera has notable limitations regarding overall sharpness and image detail. The test revealed a low measuring efficiency, meaning the actual resolution of the camera could be higher. Its output dynamics are also limited, restricting the number of brightness steps visible between the brightest and darkest areas of an image. Overall, the camera received a "Good" (2.42) final rating, praised for its mid-tier features and "budget-friendly" price point, positioning it right behind the flagship Olympus OM-D.

The Olympus PEN E-PL5 is a 15.9-megapixel mirrorless system camera that heavily borrows high-end technology from the premium OM-D series. It delivers an exceptionally strong performance in low-light environments, showcasing very low image noise even at high ISO sensitivities, which is complemented by a remarkably fast operational speed and a user-friendly menu system. Structurally, it features a practical mechanical image stabilizer built directly into the sensor, an included clip-on flash, and compatibility with Toshiba’s FlashAir cards for seamless Wi-Fi hotspot creation. One of its most defining design benefits is a highly versatile, sharp 460,000-pixel tilting display that flips both upward and completely forward to easily accommodate difficult shooting angles and selfies. Despite these strengths, the review highlights notable shortcomings in image detail and dynamic spectrum. The camera suffers from an underwhelming output resolution, resulting in an efficiency rating that is deemed just barely sufficient. Furthermore, its output dynamic range is notably narrow, meaning the sensor struggles to accurately map out a wide range of brightness gradations between the absolute brightest highlights and darkest shadows. Retailing at a recommended launch price...

The Olympus Pen E-PL5 is reviewed as an excellent, compact Micro Four Thirds (MFT) mirrorless digital camera that offers strong fundamental performance. Introduced with a 16-megapixel sensor, it delivers good overall image quality and benefits significantly from advanced RAW converters to correct minor lens aberrations. Key pros highlighted in the review include its highly portable, pocket-sized dimensions and its flexible 3.0-inch LCD tilting screen, which simplifies shooting from creative angles. Additionally, the camera boasts long battery life from its relatively large lithium-ion battery, supports an excellent optional clip-on electronic viewfinder (VF-4), and features broad cross-compatibility with other compact MFT glass like Panasonic Lumix lenses. However, the review points out several distinct cons and trade-offs regarding its hardware limitations. While it supports video recording, it is strictly limited to Full HD (1080p) at 30fps, lagging behind its newer counterparts that support modern 4K resolutions. When bundled with a highly compact pancake zoom like the Lumix 12-32mm lens, the reviewer notes optical compromises, reporting a noticeable lack of corner sharpness compared to higher-end, dedicated lenses. Despite these flaws, the review concludes that...

The dual mirrorless camera test by CHIP evaluates the Olympus PEN E-PL5 and PEN E-PM2, highlighting that while both Micro Four Thirds cameras look nearly identical and shoot excellent photos, key details set them apart. Both models benefit from the same high-tier 16-megapixel sensor inherited from the flagship OM-D E-M5, delivering sharp images, impressive color depth, and great low-light performance up to ISO 25,600. They also share a fast autofocus system and a responsive 3-inch touchscreen for easy navigation and touch-to-focus shooting. However, the video features on both models are considered mediocre, lacking advanced controls during recording and missing a standard built-in microphone jack. YouTube · The primary differences between the two come down to physical design, ergonomics, and pricing. The premium Olympus PEN E-PL5 (priced at around €700 with a kit lens) features a sturdy metal construction, a physical mode dial on top for quick shooting adjustments, and a 180-degree tilting screen ideal for waist-level composition and selfies. Its drawbacks include a slightly bulkier, heavier build and a higher price tag. On the other hand, the entry-level Olympus PEN...