Olympus PEN E-PL5
Announced September 17, 2012
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
The Olympus PEN E-PL5 provides a compact, portable alternative to larger systems by packing the imaging performance of a flagship model into a smaller, more affordable body. While it excels in image quality and autofocus speed, the camera suffers from an unintuitive menu system and a lack of integrated features like a viewfinder or internal flash.
Weighted from 24 reviewer scores
Pros
- High-quality sensor performance and image output
- Fast and accurate autofocus system
- Compact, lightweight, and ergonomic build
- Versatile tilting touchscreen interface
- Effective in-body image stabilization
Cons
- Complex and confusing menu navigation
- Absence of built-in flash and electronic viewfinder
- Cramped physical controls and buttons
- Mediocre video features and audio handling
- Inconsistent or sluggish autofocus during continuous shooting
- Launch price $699 (USD)
- Sensor 16.1MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS
What the Reviewers Say
All 24 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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For all these reasons and more, the Olympus E-PL5 should be seriously considered by any enthusiast looking to ditch their DSLR and move over to a more affordable, compact system (or at least as a backup camera when portability is key).
- Cameralabs 87%
This-all round versatility is something that’s not easy to achieve but Olympus has pulled it of with great style and panache, a feat which earns the E-PL5 our Highly Recommended award.
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Like the Olympus Pen E-PM2, I was impressed with the Pen E-PL5. The camera is well built, straightforward to use and full of features for enthusiast photographers, particularly those who want a pocketable system camera for documentary or travel photography.
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The Olympus PEN Lite E-PL5 is an excellent update to the E-PL3 and one of the best mirrorless cameras available.
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The E-PL5 essentially offers the heart of the flagship OM-D model inside a much smaller, lighter and crucially cheaper body.
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Sharing many of the characteristics and features of the flagship model, think of the E-PL5 as an OM-D Lite, rather than PEN Lite, ideal for photographers looking for a quality, compact-sized CSC that’ll deliver the goods.
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This camera therefore marries the best technologies of the Olympus OM-D with the compact and stylish bodies of the PEN series.
- Digital Trends 7/10
[F]or users upgrading from a simple point-and-shoot to an interchangeable lens camera, the Olympus PEN Lite E-PL5 is a very good camera to transition to.
- CNET 8.3/10
Not quite ready for the might of an OM-D? Olympus has churned out a very nice camera in the form of the Pen Lite E-PL5, which will satisfy many photographers looking for an upgrade from their compact camera or smartphone.
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Leave the E-PM2 on the shelf; if you want to save money, pick up a high-end point-and-shoot like the Canon S110 or the Panasonic LX7.
- Photo Review 9/10
The E-PL5 is a nice little camera and would be an excellent choice for photographers who want a small and light interchangeable-lens camera with superior overall performance.
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The E-PL5 is a fine example of how a compact system camera should be.
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With response times a match for most DSLRs too, there's comparatively little to find fault with when it comes to the E-PL5. That means that if you do find a good deal going, it can be considered a sound buy.
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This Micro Four-Thirds camera delivers one of the best compromises between image quality and size while keeping a great amount of versatility thanks to an extensive lineup of compatible lenses.
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The saving grace for this camera is the stellar image quality and focus system. If you can get over general usability issues and want a top-notch compact performer for your micro 4/3 lenses, the PL5 is a good choice.
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For two-thirds to half the price of the OM-D E-M5, depending on the kit you go for, it’s more than something to just consider.
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If an apt summary of the E-PL5 was to be written, we’d say it was nothing short of a mini OM-D E-M5.
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Why you’d buy the Olympus PEN LITE E-PL5: small, light, access to an enticing range of lenses.
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Throughout the review period, I kept asking myself who this camera was aimed at; the DSLR user/ enthusiast/ amateur looking for a second, more compact body, or the compact upgrader? I personally think it fits the latter better, much like the original Pen Mini.
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Image quality, focus speed, sequence shooting is on a par with the flagships of the format.
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So is this camera a good buy? I think it actually is. I absolutely love it. It's a really nice camera.
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[T]he Olympus PEN E-PL5 there with the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7, but in a nutshell, I love it, absolutely love it. The more I play with it, the more I shoot with it, the more I love it.
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It's a very nice camera, the picture quality is real good even in the high ISO settings.
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So I would definitely recommend this if you want a tiny really travel friendly camera to take with you on vacation or with traveling or just to throw in your pocket, cuz again this is an absolutely tiny camera.
