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The Olympus E-PL5, commonly known as the Olympus PEN Lite, is a new small system camera that falls in the middle of the range.
The EPL5 offers the world’s fastest auto-focus system, a stylish metal body, a high resolution and tiltable 3-inch LCD screen with touchscreen functionality, 8fps burst shooting, 1080p HD video recording in MOV format, a maximum sensitivity of ISO25600, double-axis sensor-shift image stabilization, a hot shoe, and an accessory port, 12 creative Art Filters, and a microphone input jack. These features are shared with the flagship Olympus OM.
Olympus PEN E-PL5 Price
Olympus E-PL5 16MP Mirrorless Digital Camera with 3-Inch LCD, Body Only (Black)
- 16 megapixels Live MOS Image sensor
- Fast AF with Touch screen shooting
- TruePic VI Image Processor
- 16 megapixels Live MOS Image sensor
- Fast AF with Touch screen shooting
- TruePic VI Image Processor
See: Best Lenses for Olympus PEN E-PL5 | Best Memory Cards for Olympus PEN E-PL5
The Olympus PEN E-PL5 can be purchased in silver, black, or white for a suggested retail price of $649.99 for the body-only model, £599.99 / $699.99 for the M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 IIR standard zoom lens kit, or £699.99 for a double-zoom kit that includes the 14-42mm standard zoom, 40-150mm tele zoom, PEN case, and SD card in addition to every package comes with a Flash Air memory card. In addition, the E-PL5 comes with a grip that can be changed and detachable.
Olympus PEN E-PL5 Build Quality
The M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II R lens, which is included with the E-PL5 and has a distinct plastic-y feeling, is retractable and is one of over 20 dedicated Micro Four Thirds lenses.
The E-PL5 has an interchangeable “decoration ring” and the same streamlined, retro-chic design we’ve expected from the Pen series of cameras. When held in the palm, it has a reassuringly strong feeling.
The camera’s body only weighs 279 grams and has dimensions of 110.5 millimeters by 63.7 millimeters by 38.2 millimeters. In addition to our more classic black and chrome design, this most recent Olympus may also be purchased in white and silver.
At the back of the E-PL5 is a revolutionary LCD panel that tilts, has an adjustable angle, and has a widescreen ratio. It has a size of 3 inches, a widescreen aspect ratio, and a reasonable 460k dot resolution, which means that visibility is clear enough, even though it is not quite a match for the OLED screen on the E-P3 model.
It is similar to Sony’s NEX series in that it has an LCD that can be adjusted, and it is also identical to its competitor in that the screen can be detached from the body and tilted up or down. It can also be rotated upward by 170 degrees to face the front for taking self-portraits.
On the other hand, it cannot be swung out to the side by an angle of 180 degrees so that it is parallel to the chassis, as is possible on a camcorder. When transported (without the lens) in a jacket pocket, it also cannot be rotated so that the screen faces the body to provide an additional layer of protection from scratches.
Olympus PEN E-PL5 Performance
We had incredibly high hopes for the Olympus PEN Lite E-PL5 because it utilizes the same sensor as the Olympus OM-D E-M5, and we are happy to announce that the camera does not disappoint.
The quality of photographs taken without any post-processing is high. They are packed with a great deal of detail, and the colors that result from them are rich and powerful while avoiding being excessively brilliant.
You can get the most out of the image sensor thanks to the wide variety of shooting settings available. For example, if you photograph fall trees, you can plug in the “Vibrant” mode to highlight the colors, while you can shoot in the “Neutral” mode for other subjects, such as portraiture.
Olympus PEN E-PL5 Image Quality
The Olympus OM-D E-M5 was capable of producing photographs of exceptionally high quality. The Natural image option makes vivid colors without being gaudy or too saturated, and the dynamic range is excellent in this setting.
Noise is nearly unnoticeable from ISO 200 to ISO 1600. It doesn’t become a concern until ISO 3200, a fantastic performance for a camera with a Micro Four Thirds sensor. Only the two fastest settings, ISO 12800 and 25600, are suffering from noise. However, ISO 3200 and 6400 may still be used.
Long exposures are simple, even though the included flash unit is much stronger for fill-in use. Even when the camera is being held by hand at lower shutter rates, the newly developed image stabilization technology performs exceptionally well. If you wanted to get the same special effects without using the Art Filters, you would have to spend a significant amount of time in the digital darkroom.
Olympus PEN E-PL5 Specs
| Body type | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
|---|---|
| Max resolution | 4608 x 3456 |
| Other resolutions | 2560 x 1920, 1024 x 768 |
| Image ratio w h | 4:3 |
| Effective pixels | 16 megapixels |
| Sensor photo detectors | 17 megapixels |
| Sensor size | Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) |
| Sensor type | CMOS |
| ISO | Auto (200 – 1600), 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800, 16000, 20000, 25600 |
| White balance presets | 8 |
| Custom white balance | Yes (1) |
| Image stabilization | Sensor-shift |
| Uncompressed format | RAW |
| Autofocus | Contrast Detect (sensor)Multiarea selective single-pointTrackingSingleContinuousTouchFace DetectionLive V.iew. |
| Digital zoom | No |
| Manual focus | Yes |
| Number of focus points | 35 |
| Lens mount | Micro Four Thirds |
| Focal length multiplier | 2× |
| Articulated LCD | Tilting |
| Screen size | 3? |
| Screen dots | 460,000 |
| Touch screen | Yes |
| Live view | Yes |
| Viewfinder type | Electronic (optional) |
| Minimum shutter speed | 60 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/4000 sec |
| Aperture priority | Yes |
| Shutter priority | Yes |
| Manual exposure mode | Yes |
| Subject/scene modes | Yes |
| Built-in flash | No (bundled external flash) |
| FlaRangenge | 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) |
| External flash | Yes (Clip-on FL-LM1 included, Hot-shoe) |
| Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) |
| Continuous drive | 8.0 fps |
| Self-timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) |
| Metering modes | MultiCenter-weighted spot |
| Exposure compensation | ±3 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV, 1 EV steps) |
| AE Bracketing | (2, 3 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV steps) |
| WB Bracketing | Yes (3 frames in 2, 4, and 6 steps selectable in either blue/amber or magenta/green axis) |
| Resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
| Format | MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG |
| Microphone | Stereo |
| Speaker | Mono |
| Storage types | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| HDMI | Yes (Mini HDMI type-C) |
| Wireless | Eye-Fi Connected |
| Remote control | Yes (Optional RM-UC1) |
| Environmentally sealed | No |
| Battery | Battery Pack |
| Battery description | Lithium-Ion BLS-5 rechargeable battery & charger |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 360 |
| Weight (inc. batteries) | 325 g (0.72 lb / 11.46 oz) |
| Dimensions | 111 x 64 x 38 mm (4.37 x 2.52 x 1.5?) |
| Orientation sensor | Yes |
| Timelapse recording | No |
| GPS | None |
Olympus PEN E-PL5 Conclusion
The E-PL5 provides the same functionality as the flagship OM-D model within a far more compact, lighter, and significantly more affordable bodFor example, suppose you can do without the OM-built-in D’s electronic viewfinder, dust- and splash-proof housing. In that case, 5-axis gyro image stabilization system, and a more hands-on interface, the E-PL5 provides the highest image quality from an Olympus mirrorless camera at a price that won’t put a dent in your bank account.
Additionally, this new model solves some of the difficulties we had with the model that came before. For example, the E-PL3 gave off the impression of being a bit of a curiosity because it was awkwardly positioned between the even smaller E-PM1 and the more premium E-P3. In contrast, the new E-PL5 is a more well-rounded offering.
It comes with a screw-in handgrip, a Flash Air memory card, a touchscreen interface, an expanded ISO range; faster 8fps burst shooting, and more Art Filters. However, it does not have a flash incorporated into the device, and the clip-on flash included with the appliance cannot fully compensate for this shortcoming.
The image quality of Micro Four Thirds cameras has generally been inferior to that of its competitors with APS-C sensors. However, the E-PL5 continues where the OM-D E-M5 left off by producing comparable results from other top cameras.
Olympus PEN E-PL5 Price
Olympus E-PL5 16MP Mirrorless Digital Camera with 3-Inch LCD, Body Only (Black)
- 16 megapixels Live MOS Image sensor
- Fast AF with Touch screen shooting
- TruePic VI Image Processor
- 16 megapixels Live MOS Image sensor
- Fast AF with Touch screen shooting
- TruePic VI Image Processor
