The Olympus PEN E-P5 is a mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera in the micro four thirds system released in October 2013. This is, despite its number, the fourth model in the PEN E-P range. It remained the latest model in the E-P series until the introduction of the E-P7 in the summer of 2021. It includes the same 16 MP sensor as the Olympus OM-D E-M5. The E-P5 comes in three colour schemes; black, silver and white.[1]

Olympus PEN E-P5
Overview
MakerOlympus Corporation
TypeMirrorless interchangeable-lens camera
ReleasedOctober 2013
Lens
LensInterchangeable
Sensor/medium
Sensor typeLive MOS
Sensor sizeFour Thirds (13x17.3mm)
Recording mediumSD card
Focusing
FocusSupports autofocus lenses
Exposure/metering
Exposure meteringTTL
Flash
FlashBuilt-In+supports external flashes through the hot shoe
Shutter
Frame rate9 fps
Viewfinder
ViewfinderOptional external OVF or EVF
General
LCD screen3" 1.03m pixel resolution
Weight420g
Chronology
PredecessorOlympus PEN E-P3

Specifications:

  • 16MP Four Thirds sized (13x17.3mm) Live MOS sensor
  • 1/8000s top shutter speed
  • 5-axis image stabilization with panning detection
  • ISO 100 – 25,600
  • Burst rate: up to 9 frames per second (5 with continuous auto focus)
  • Focus-peaking to assist manual focus
  • Intervalometer and Time Lapse movie creation (up to 99 frames)
  • 3" LCD touchscreen
  • Built-in Wi-Fi for remote shooting (full control of all settings), image transfer and adding geolocation through smartphone

Compared to its predecessor Olympus PEN E-P3

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  • improved 5-axis sensor stabilization vs 2-axis sensor stabilization
  • enhanced in-camera RAW conversion
  • HDR bracketing
  • fastest shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s - 1 EV faster
  • Wi-Fi connectivity
  • 9 fps burst rate vs 3 fps
  • new 16 MPx sensor from the E-M5 vs 12 MPx
  • higher maximum ISO: 25,600 vs 12,800
  • tilting LCD screen vs fixed LCD screen
  • Ergonomics: The thumb roller and the adjusting wheel around the d-pad have been replaced with customizable top dials.

Compared to the Olympus OM-D E-M5

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In 2012, Olympus started the OM-D series with the E-M5 as their more professional line compared to their PEN series, which had been running for a few years. Back in the day, the main criticism for the PEN series was the lack of built-in viewfinder, the lack of weather-sealing and the weird ergonomics for some. Olympus worked on fixing these when they made the E-M5, and some of its features slid down into the E-P5.

  • The E-P5 got the new 16 MPx sensor from the E-M5. Previously, every Olympus Micro Four Thirds camera had a 12 MPx sensor.
  • The E-P5 got the 5-axis sensor stabilization with 4 EV efficiency.
  • The same 9 fps burst. The low burst rate was a common weakness of previous Micro Four Thirds cameras.
  • Tilting rear LCD screen.

There were features where the E-P5 was even better than the E-M5:

  • It had 1/8000s fastest shutter speed instead of 1/4000s.
  • It had a lot higher resolution back LCD screen: 1.03 million pixels vs 610k
  • It had built-in Wi-Fi capabilities.
  • It had a built-in flash.

However, the E-M5 had a major feature, the built-in electronic viewfinder, which the PEN series lacked until the PEN F's digital version, which was released in 2016. The EVF became a mainstream feature in the lower categories of mirrorless cameras as well, so the PEN series went to a decline, and a new camera in the main PEN series was not seen again until the E-P7 in 2021.

References

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  1. ^ Butler, Richard; Andy Westlake (2013). "Olympus PEN E-P5 Review". DPReview. Retrieved 5 May 2014.