Olympus E-PL5 Overview

It’s hard to understand why manufacturers are competing so hard with fancy, flashy but not always useful technologies and technical solutions. In practice, overly high-end, over-priced top models rarely prove to be very successful. On the contrary, mass segment devices develop dynamically and harmoniously, adding useful features that customers demand and ultimately shape the market. The Olympus E-PL5 is in just such a class. Blemished of its ideological framework, the Pen Lite has grown into a modern, functional, good-looking and high-quality mirrorless camera. Maybe not the best, but definitely interesting.

Olympus E-PL5

16.1 MP 14-42 mm, F3,5-5,6 3″ new

The camera has the latest technological advances from Olympus and the entire FourThirds platform. A state-of-the-art 16 megapixel sensor with sensitivity up to 25,600 ISO, new-generation processor, electronics and software, resulting in noticeable increases in image quality and shooting functions. For example, the speed of the camera has increased from 5.5 to 8 frames per second – and this with an increase in resolution by a third.

The design of the device has changed slightly, even an interesting corporate “gizmo” – a removable, on the screw, a mini-handle, improving the grip and, at the expense of various colors, the design of the device. The flip-up pressure-sensitive display has an improved mechanism for raising the screen about 170 degrees for self-portraits.

Overall, one of the most harmonious lines in terms of development, quality and price, the new generation is even nicer and better. The E-PL5 is an interesting choice for amateur photographers moving out of the compact class, but not ready for the size and price of advanced senior cameras like the E-P3 or OM-D. At least in the price range of 20-25 thousand Dollars the novelty should be included in the list for comparison and consideration.