Why You Can Trust CNET Olympus E-PL5 gets a grip
While there are some other enhancements to the camera, a grip may be the most notable.
If you've already read my take on the PEN E-PM2, this part's going to sound familiar: with this revision, the camera becomes even less distinguishable from its step-down line mate. Both have been updated to use the same sensor as the top-of-Olympus'-line OM-D E-M5, an have gotten a burst-shooting boost to 8fps (albeit with caveats) and an update to 1080/30p video. They also get the same upgrade to a touch-screen LCD. The differences: the E-PL5 has a hardware mode dial, tilting display, and removable grip.
The removable grip is a new, and very welcome addition; one of my complaints about the E-PL3 was the lack of one.
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Finally, like the E-PM2, the E-PL5 has gotten a price bump of $100 over the price segment in which it used to live.
Here are some of its competitors:
| Nikon 1 J1/J2 | Olympus PEN E-PL3 | Olympus PEN E-PL5 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 | Pentax Q10 | Sony Alpha NEX-F3 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor (effective resolution) | 10mp CMOS | 12.3mp Live MOS | 16.1-megapixel Live MOS 12 bit | 12.1mp Live MOS | 12.4mp BSI CMOS | 16.1mp Exmor HD CMOS |
| 13.2 x 8.8 mm | 17.3mm x 13mm | 17.3mm x 13mm | 17.3mm x 13mm | 1/2.3-inch | 23.5mm x 15.6mm | |
| Focal-length multiplier | 2.7x | 2.0x | 2.0x | 2.0x | 5.5x | 1.5x |
| Sensitivity range | ISO 100 - ISO 3200/6400 (expanded) | ISO 200 - ISO 12,800 | ISO 200 - ISO 25600 | ISO 100 - ISO 6400/ 12800 (expanded) | ISO 100 - ISO 6400 | ISO 200 - ISO 16000 |
| Continuous shooting | 5fps n/a (60fps with fixed AF and electronic shutter) | 4.1fps n/a (5.5fps without image stabilization) | 8fps (with AF/ 19 JPEG/15 raw | 4fps unlimited JPEG/4 raw | 5fps 5 JPEG/n/a (1.5fps raw) | 2.5 fps 18 JPEG/ (5.5fps with fixed exposure) |
| Viewfinder | None | Optional | Optional bundled | None | Optional optical for prime lens | None |
| Autofocus | 73-point phase detection, 135-area contrast AF | 35-area contrast AF | 35-area contrast AF | 23-area contrast AF | 25-point contrast AF | 25-point contrast AF |
| Shutter speed | 1/3 - 1/16,000; bulb; 1/60 sec x-sync | 60-1/4,000 sec; bulb to 30 minutes; 1/4,000 FP sync | 60-1/4,000 sec; bulb to 30 minutes; 1/250 sec x-sync | 60-1/4,000 sec; 1/160 flash sync | 30-1/8,000 sec.; bulb; 1/2000 or 1/13 sec sync | 30-1/4,000 sec.; bulb; 1/160 flash sync |
| Metering | n/a | 324 area | 324 area | 144 zone | n/a | 1200 zone |
| Flash | Yes | Included optional | Included optional | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Image stabilization | Optical | Sensor shift | Sensor shift | Optical | Sensor shift | Optical |
| Video | 1080/60i /30p, 720/60p H.264 MPEG-4 QuickTime MOV | 1080/60i AVCHD @ 20, 17Mbps; 720/60p @ 13Mbps | 1080/30p @ 20, 17Mbps H.264 QuickTime MOV | AVCHD or MPEG-4 QuickTime MOV 1080/60i @ 17Mbps 720/60p @17Mbps | 1080/30p H.264 QuickTime MOV | AVCHD 1080/60i @ 24, 17Mbps, 1080/24p @ 24, 17Mbps |
| Audio | Stereo | Stereo; mic input | Stereo; mic input | Stereo | Mono | Stereo; mic input |
| LCD size | 3-inch fixed 460,000 dots/ 3-inch fixed 920,000 dots | 3-inch tilting 460,000 dots | 3-inch tilting touch screen 460,000 dots | 3-inch fixed touch screen 920,000 dots | 3-inch fixed 460,000 dots | 3-inch tilting 921,600 dots |
| Wireless connection | None | Optional Bluetooth | Optional Bluetooth | None | None | None |
| Battery life (CIPA rating) | 230 shots | 300 shots | 360 shots | 330 shots | 250 shots | 470 shots |
| Dimensions (inches, WHD) | 4.2 x 2.4 x 1.2 | 4.3 x 2.5 x 1.5 | 4.4 x 2.5 x 1.5 | 4.2 x 2.6 x 1.5 | 4.0 x 2.3 x 1.3 | 4.6 x 2.6 x 1.6 |
| Body operating weight (ounces) | 9.7 | 11 | 11.5 (est) | 9.6 | 7 (est) | 11.1 |
| Mfr. price | n/a | n/a | $649.99 (body only) | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| $549.95/ $649.95 (with 10-30mm lens) | $599.99 (with 14-42mm lens) | $699.99 (with 14-42mm lens) | $599 (with 14-42mm lens) | $599.95 (with 27.5-83.0mm equivalent lens) | $549 (with 18-55mm lens) | |
| n/a/$899.95 (with 10-30mm and 30-110mm lenses) | $599.99 (est, with 17mm lens) | n/a | $749 (with 14-42mm power zoom lens) | n/a | n/a | |
| Ship date | October 2011/ September 2012 | September 2011 | October 2012 | June 2012 | October 2012 | June 2012 |
The E-PL5 is a bit of a hard sell at the higher price unless you're looking specifically for a Micro Four Thirds model; the tilting display is probably worth it for many folks over the GF5. But the substantially cheaper Sony Alpha NEX-F3 has one, and a larger sensor to boot.