Olympus E-PL5 Quick Review
Nov 25
By Scott Gietler and Kelli Dickinson
We are really excited about the Olympus E-PL5.
It has an amazing sensor, the same as the OM-D E-M5, takes great photos, and works great in the Olympus housing.
Reasons to get the E-PL5:
- Awesome image quality, great lens selection, great high ISO performance (see image tests below)
- Performed as well as the OM-D (8-9fps) in our high-speed shooting tests
- Olympus E-PL5 underwater housing is a great value
- E-PL5 Camera is at a great price
- Electronic viewfinder
- Better image stabilization for stills/video
- 2 control dials vs none on the E-PL5, better grip
- 2 programmable function buttons vs 1 on the E-PL5
Comparing the E-PL5, OM-D, and the original E-PL1
Olympus PEN image tests, taken at 14mm, F5.6, 1/250th, ISO 200
Olympus E-PL5, 100% crop
Olympus OM-D E-M5, 100% crop
Olympus E-PL1 100% crop, resized to match E-Pl5 image
Olympus PEN high ISO tests, taken at 14mm, F8, 1/640th, ISO 3200
Olympus E-PL5 ISO 3200, 100% crop
Olympus OM-D E-M5 ISO 3200, 100% crop
Olympus E-PL1 ISO 3200, 100% crop
Olympus PEN slow-shutter tests, testing the image stabilization, taken at 42mm, F8, 1/10th, ISO 200
Olympus E-PL5, 1/10th at 42mm, cropped
Olympus OM-D, 42mm at 1/10th. very sharp!
Olympus E-PL1 at 1/10th, 42mm
Image test conclusions:
The E-PL5 takes the same photos as the OM-D, it just has a different body. The OM-D clearly has better image stabilization. You can go wrong with either setup, either the E-PL5 + Olympus housing, or the higher end OM-D with a Nauticam housing.
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