Olympus PEN E-P5

    71
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    Highlights

    • 16.1 MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS Sensor
    • 100 - 25,600 Native ISO
    • 35 Focus Points (35 Cross-type)
    • 5-Axis Image Stabilization
    • 3.0" 1,037k dot Tilting Screen
    • 9.0 fps Continuous Shooting
    • 1920 x 1080 Video Shooting
    • 30 min Video Recording Limit
    • Built-in Flash
    • Built-In Wi-Fi
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    Disclosure: We earn money from the affiliate links to products associated with content in this article.

    Overview

    Olympus PEN E-P5 was announced in 2013 and is a Micro Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) Mirrorless camera with 16.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor. Its native ISO ranges from 100 to 25,600. The camera has a Tilting 3.0" screen with 1,037k dot resolution. It has a built-in 5-Axis Sensor Shift in body image stabilization.

    Olympus PEN E-P5 can capture video up to 1920 x 1080 resolution.


    Here is the Olympus PEN series lineup, where you can view and compare the main specifications of the cameras within the same series.

    Olympus PEN series lineup
    Model Date Sensor Native ISO Screen Price
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-P7 June
    2021
    20 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    200 - 25,600 Tilting 3.0"
    1,040k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-PL9 February
    2018
    16.1 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    200 - 6,400 Tilting 3.0"
    1,040k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-PL8 September
    2016
    16.1 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    200 - 25,600 Tilting 3.0"
    1,037k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN-F January
    2016
    20 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    200 - 25,600 Articulated 3.0"
    1,037k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-PL7 September
    2014
    16.1 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    100 - 25,600 Tilting 3.0"
    1,037k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-PL6 August
    2014
    16 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    100 - 25,600 Tilting 3.0"
    460k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-P5 October
    2013
    16.1 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    100 - 25,600 Tilting 3.0"
    1,037k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-PM2 May
    2013
    16.1 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    200 - 25,600 Fixed 3.0"
    460k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-PL5 September
    2012
    16.1 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    200 - 25,600 Tilting 3.0"
    460k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-PM1 November
    2011
    12.3 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    100 - 12,800 Fixed 3.0"
    460k dot
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-PL3 September
    2011
    12.3 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    200 - 12,800 Tilting 3.0"
    460k dot
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-P3 August
    2011
    12.3 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    100 - 12,800 Fixed 3.0"
    614k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-PL2 February
    2011
    12 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    100 - 6,400 Fixed 3.0"
    460k dot
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-PL1s November
    2010
    12 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    100 - 6,400 Fixed 2.7"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-PL1 May
    2010
    12 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    100 - 3,200 Fixed 2.7"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-P2 April
    2010
    12 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    100 - 6,400 Fixed 3.0"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-P1 July
    2009
    12 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    100 - 6,400 Fixed 3.0"
    230k dot

    You can view their side-by-side comparison here: Olympus PEN E-P7 vs PEN E-PL9 vs PEN E-PL8 vs PEN-F vs PEN E-PL7 vs PEN E-PL6.

    Pros and Cons

    In this section we present pros and cons of Olympus PEN E-P5.

    PROS

    •   Video Capture
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Face Detection
    •   Live View Autofocus
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Touch Screen
    •   High Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/8000 sec
    •   Built-in Flash
    •   High Flash Sync Speed - 1/320 sec
    •   HDMI Output
    •   Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   Light - 420 g (0.93 lb / 14.82 oz)
    •   Orientation Sensor

    CONS

    •   Small Sensor
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
    •   Low Video Recording Limit
    •   No Microphone Input
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Built-In Bluetooth
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Short Battery Life - 330 shots

    And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

    AVERAGE

    •   Sensor Resolution - 16.1 Megapixel
    •   100 Lowest Native ISO
    •   25,600 Highest Native ISO
    •   35 Focus Points
    •   Tilting Screen
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot
    •   Max Continuous Shooting - 9.0 fps
    •   DxO Overall Score - 72

    Predecessor

    Here we are comparing Olympus PEN E-P5 to its predecessor PEN E-P3 and displaying the major changes.

    UPGRADES Olympus PEN E-P5 vs Olympus PEN E-P3
    Higher Sensor Resolution 16.1 Megapixel vs 12.3 Megapixel
    Higher Native ISO 25,600 vs 12,800
    Max Image Resolution 4608 x 3456 vs 4032 x 3024
    Timelapse Recording vs
    Screen Type Tilting vs Fixed
    Higher Resolution Screen 1,037k dot vs 614k dot
    Higher Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) 1/8000 sec vs 1/4000 sec
    Higher Max Continuous Shooting 9.0 fps vs 3.0 fps
    Higher Flash Sync Speed 1/320 sec vs 1/180 sec
    Higher DxO Low Light ISO 895 vs 536
    Higher DxO Color Depth 22.8 vs 20.8
    Higher DxO Dynamic Range 12.4 vs 10.1
    Higher DxO Overall Score 72 vs 51
    Speaker Mono vs
    Built-In Wi-Fi vs
    DOWNGRADES Olympus PEN E-P5 vs Olympus PEN E-P3
    Heavier 420 g (0.93 lb / 14.82 oz) vs 369 g (0.81 lb / 13.02 oz)

    For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Olympus PEN E-P5 vs PEN E-P3.

    Screen and Viewfinder

    Tilting Touchscreen

    Olympus PEN E-P5 has a 3.0" Tilting touchscreen with 1,037k dot resolution. Tilting screen makes this camera very useful for photography purposes but not so useful for video shooting.

    Camera does not have a built-in viewfinder but an optional electronic viewfinder can be attached.

    Sensor

    Olympus PEN E-P5 features a 16.1 megapixel Micro Four Thirds CMOS sensor with dimensions of 17.3 x 13 mm and a total area of 224.9 mm2. Its native ISO range is 100 - 25,600.


    Here is a sensor size comparison chart where you can see how Olympus PEN E-P5's Micro Four Thirds sensor compares with other types of sensors:

    Sensor size chart
    Sensor Dimensions Area Aspect Ratio Crop Factor
    Image cannot be displayedMedium Format44 x 33 mm1452 mm24:30.79x
    Image cannot be displayedFull Frame36 x 24 mm864 mm23:21x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-H27 x 18 mm486 mm23:21.3x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-C23.6 x 15.6 mm368.2 mm23:21.5x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-C (Canon)22.3 x 14.9 mm332.3 mm23:21.6x
    Image cannot be displayedMicro Four Thirds17.3 x 13 mm224.9 mm24:32x
    Image cannot be displayed1-inch13.2 x 8.8 mm116.2 mm23:22.7x
    Image cannot be displayed1/1.7-inch7.44 x 5.58 mm41.5 mm24:34.7x
    Image cannot be displayed1/2.3-inch6.17 x 4.55 mm28.1 mm24:35.6x

    Photography Features

    Camera can take pictures up to 4608 x 3456 resolution.


    Lens Mount

    Olympus PEN E-P5 has Micro Four Thirds lens mount. Due to Micro Four Thirds sensor its crop factor (also called lens multiplier) is 2x. This means that a 35mm equivalent focal length of the mounted lens will be equal to its actual focal length times 2.


    In-Body Image Stabilization

    The camera has a built-in 5-Axis Sensor Shift in-body image stabilization (IBIS). This means that you are still getting vibration reduction when camera is paired with non-image stabilizied lenses. It also works with lenses with optical image stabilization and in combination can achieve even better compensation.

    Check out the cameras which are frequently compared to Olympus PEN E-P5.

    Connectivity, Battery and Storage

    Built-in Wi-Fi

    Camera has a built-in Wi-Fi which allows to easily transfer photos and videos from the camera to other Wi-Fi-enabled devices, such as smartphones, tablets, printers, or computers. This eliminates the need for cables and allows for quick and convenient media sharing and social media integration. It gives you the ability to control your camera remotely using a smartphone or tablet. This is particularly useful for taking self-portraits, group shots, or capturing images in challenging conditions without having to touch the camera. Firmware updates can also be downloaded and installed wirelessly.
      Check out the cameras in our database that have built-in WiFi.


    USB Input and HDMI Output

    Olympus PEN E-P5 has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) input for data transfer. There is an HDMI connector for video signal output.


    External Storage Slots

    The camera has a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot.

    Other Features

    Shutter

    Olympus PEN E-P5's shutter speed can go up to 1/8000 sec. Camera can shoot continuously up to 9.0 fps.


    Flash

    Olympus PEN E-P5 has a built-in flash with maximum range of 7.00 m at ISO 100 and also accepts external flash which can be connected via Hot Shoe. The fastest flash synchronization speed is 1/320 sec.

    Physical Parameters

    Olympus PEN E-P5 has dimensions of 122 x 69 x 37 mm (4.8 x 2.72 x 1.46"). It weighs 420 g (0.93 lb / 14.82 oz), so it is a lightweight camera.

    122 mm (4.8")

    69 mm (2.72")

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    69 mm (2.72")

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    37 mm (1.46")

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    Olympus PEN E-P5 dimensions

    Olympus PEN E-P5 for Different Types of Photography

    We give scores to the camera for different type of photography based on its features and specifications. Let us see how Olympus PEN E-P5 is suitable for six different types of photography.


    Landscape Photography

    GOOD
    71

    Olympus PEN E-P5 gets a score of 71 and is GOOD choice for Landscape photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing

    Sports Photography

    GOOD
    76

    Olympus PEN E-P5 gets a score of 76 and is GOOD choice for Sports photography.

    •   25,600 Highest Native ISO
    •   35 Focus Points
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Face Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot
    •   Max Continuous Shooting - 9.0 fps
    •   Short Battery Life - 330 shots
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Wildlife Photography

    GOOD
    70

    Olympus PEN E-P5 gets a score of 70 and is GOOD choice for Wildlife photography.

    •   25,600 Highest Native ISO
    •   35 Focus Points
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot
    •   Max Continuous Shooting - 9.0 fps
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Short Battery Life - 330 shots
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Portrait Photography

    EXCELLENT
    85

    Olympus PEN E-P5 gets a score of 85 and is EXCELLENT choice for Portrait photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   35 Focus Points
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Face Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot
    •   High Flash Sync Speed - 1/320 sec
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Street Photography

    EXCELLENT
    86

    Olympus PEN E-P5 gets a score of 86 and is EXCELLENT choice for Street photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   35 Focus Points
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Tilting Screen
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 420 g (0.93 lb / 14.82 oz)

    Travel Photography

    GOOD
    83

    Olympus PEN E-P5 gets a score of 83 and is GOOD choice for Travel photography.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Tilting Screen
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot
    •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
    •   Low Video Recording Limit
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 420 g (0.93 lb / 14.82 oz)
    •   Short Battery Life - 330 shots

    Olympus PEN E-P5 Evaluation

    We evaluate Olympus PEN E-P5 and give score of 71 out of 100. We also give separate scores for 7 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new camera is added to the database.


    OVERALL
    71

    Sensor

    AVERAGE
    67

    We give Olympus PEN E-P5 a score of 67 for Sensor parameters.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Sensor Resolution - 16.1 Megapixel
    •   100 Lowest Native ISO
    •   25,600 Highest Native ISO
    •   DxO Overall Score - 72

    Photo

    GOOD
    78

    We give Olympus PEN E-P5 a score of 78 for Photo parameters.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   High Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/8000 sec
    •   Max Continuous Shooting - 9.0 fps
    •   High Flash Sync Speed - 1/320 sec

    Video

    POOR
    45

    We give Olympus PEN E-P5 a score of 45 for Video parameters.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
    •   Low Video Recording Limit

    Focusing

    GOOD
    75

    We give Olympus PEN E-P5 a score of 75 for Focusing parameters.

    •   35 Focus Points
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Face Detection
    •   Live View Autofocus

    Screen and Viewfinder

    EXCELLENT
    85

    We give Olympus PEN E-P5 a score of 85 for Screen and Viewfinder parameters.

    •   Tilting Screen
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot

    Connectivity

    GOOD
    78

    We give Olympus PEN E-P5 a score of 78 for Connectivity parameters.

    •   HDMI Output
    •   No Microphone Input
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   No Built-In Bluetooth

    Battery, Storage and Physical

    POOR
    41

    We give Olympus PEN E-P5 a score of 41 for Battery, Storage and Physical parameters.

    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 420 g (0.93 lb / 14.82 oz)
    •   Short Battery Life - 330 shots


    For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:

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