Reasons to choose OM-D E-M5
Released in 2012, OM-D E-M5 has about 225 mm² of sensor area, 16.1 MP effective resolution, and a 425 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.
Side-by-side comparison
Olympus OM-D E-M5
vs Olympus PEN E-PL2
VS
Sensor area
225 mm²
OM-D E-M5225 mm²
PEN E-PL2- Area ratio
- 1:1
- Absolute difference
- 0 mm²
- Relative difference
- 0%
The OM-D E-M5 and PEN E-PL2 have the same sensor area. Compare pixel density, sensor architecture, and release generation to understand likely image-quality differences.
These cameras were released 1 years apart. Consider sensor generation when comparing pixel metrics.
Key specification differences
OM-D E-M5MetricPEN E-PL2
16.1 MPEffective pixels12.3 MP
17.3 × 13Sensor17.3 × 13
3.74 µmPixel pitch4.28 µm
13.97 µm²Pixel area18.28 µm²
7.16 MP/cm²Pixel density5.47 MP/cm²
2Crop factor2
—Maximum video—
425 gWeight362 g
SD/SDHC/SDXCStorageSD/SDHC
Lithium-Ion BLN-1 rechargeable battery Li-ion batteryBatteryLithium-Ion BLS-5 rechargeable battery Li-ion battery
Amber marks the value that is generally preferable in this comparison context. It is not an overall camera score.
How to choose between these cameras
The OM-D E-M5 and PEN E-PL2 have the same sensor area. The PEN E-PL2 has the lighter body. The OM-D E-M5 has the higher effective resolution. The OM-D E-M5 is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose PEN E-PL2
Released in 2011, PEN E-PL2 has about 225 mm² of sensor area, 12.3 MP effective resolution, and a 362 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.