alaTest Sites
About alaTest
Connect with alaTest
alaTest, All about reviews. © 2005-2025 ICSS AB. All rights reserved. Privacy & Terms
479 reviews
May, 2025
alaTest has collected and analyzed 479 reviews of Olympus PEN E-PL5. The average rating for this product is 4.4/5, compared to an average rating of 4.3/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras for all reviews. Reviewers really like the price and image quality. The portability and usability are also mentioned favorably, whereas many are critical about the viewfinder. There are some mixed opinions about the flash.
performance, usability, portability, image quality, price
viewfinder
We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Digital Compact Cameras the Olympus PEN E-PL5 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 91/100 = Excellent quality.
See all Olympus Digital CamerasConsumer review (amazon.co.uk)
alaTest has collected and analyzed 52 user reviews of Olympus PEN E-PL5 from Amazon.co.uk. The average user rating for this product is 4.7/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.3/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras on Amazon.co.uk. Comments about the image quality and size are on the whole positive. The performance and portability are also appreciated, whereas comments about the exposure and low light performance are different.
usability, portability, performance, size, image quality
98% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.
Consumer review (amazon.com)
alaTest has collected and analyzed 194 user reviews of Olympus PEN E-PL5 from Amazon.com. The average user rating for this product is 4.4/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.2/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras on Amazon.com. Comments about the price and image quality are generally positive. The portability and performance are also appreciated. There are some mixed opinions about the reliability, and some have doubts about the exposure and viewfinder.
usability, performance, portability, image quality, price
viewfinder, exposure
95% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.
Consumer review (amazon.ca)
alaTest has collected and analyzed 3 user reviews of Olympus PEN E-PL5 from Amazon.ca. The average user rating for this product is 4.0/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.3/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras on Amazon.ca. Reviewers are impressed by the screen and performance. The portability and price also get good reviews.
usability, price, portability, performance, screen
67% of the reviews on Amazon.ca give this product a positive rating.
Expert review by : Amy Davies (techradar.com)
We try out the new Olympus PEN E-PL5
Tilting screen ; OM-D sensor ; Large lens range
Not an articulating screen
Olympus has refreshed its PEN lineup of compact system cameras, with two new introductions to sit in the middle and at the bottom of the lineup.
Expert review by (t3.com)
The Olympus E-PL5 is a 'Lite' version of the range topping Olympus OM-D
Sophisticated design ; Tilting touch-screen ; Anti shake built into camera
Small backplate buttons ; Plasticky kit lens ; Lacks convincing grip
Expert review by : Mike Lowe (pocket-lint.com)
The Olympus E-PL5, otherwise known as the "PEN Lite", is the fourth iteration of the E-PL series. It's been a bit of a roller-coaster ride since this Micro Four Thirds series' conception: we've had moments of brilliance such as the retro design; but...
Great image quality as per OM-D E-M5, decent build quality, useful Art Filters, touchscreen, full range of Micro Four Thirds lenses
Flash is hotshoe-mounted only (not necessarily a problem), plastic grip looks a bit cheap, continuous autofocus still not quite there, ISO 200 minimum
The E-PL5 may at first seem like a small series of steady improvements rolled into the one camera and, in some respects, that's all it is. But the combination of these subtleties merges into one much greater whole than any E-PL model before it.
Expert review by : Derrick Story (techadvisor.co.uk)
Unfortunately, the compact body doesn't have enough room for a built-in flash. Olympus ships a separate unit in the kit that slides into the accessory shoe on the top of the camera. This is a change that Olympus made in the previous model, the E-PL3,...
The Olympus E-PL5 is a camera you should hold in your hands before making a buying decision. If it passes your personal ergonomics test, then the performance is sure to please. Excellent image quality combined with fast autofocusing and an impressive 8...
Expert review by : Gavin Stoker (techadvisor.co.uk)
Successor to the E-PL3 we reviewed this time last year, the E-PL5 has skipped a number to become the fourth generation interchangeable lens Micro Four Thirds system compact from Olympus (the same technology the Panasonic G5 uses). Also known as the...
We enjoyed the ability to fire the shutter with a satisfying clunk by tapping where your subject appears on screen. Plus with Art Filter effects that are fun and effective, and warm, bold colours delivered almost on default, apart from a few niggles...
Expert review by : What Digital Camera (whatdigitalcamera.com)
At first glance, the E-PL5 seems nothing more than a tweak to the E-PL3, but while it may look similar, the E-PL5 feels like a completely different camera underneath. This is in no small part due to the rather impressive 16.1MP sensor borrowed from the...
Expert review by : Gavin Stoker (macworld.co.uk)
Including this CSC, Olympus has had four generations to refine its act. Looks and handles great if you ignore teeny, fiddly backplate buttons
Starter option with sophisticated design, tilting touchscreen LCD screen aids visibility and makes for intuitive use, dedicated video record button falls readily under the thumb, image stabilisation built into camera body rather than lens
Small backplate buttons, but criticism otherwise similar to that of its E-PL3 predecessor, namely we miss the integral flash and handgrip of the E-PL2, and bemoan the plastic-y clip-on flash, plastic-y clip on grip and plastic-y kit lens provided in lieu
We enjoyed the ability to fire the shutter with a satisfying clunk by tapping where your subject appears on screen. Plus with Art Filter effects that are fun and effective, and warm, bold colours delivered almost on default, apart from a few niggles...
Expert review by (ephotozine.com)
We go hands on with the new Olympus PEN Lite E-PL5 and post sample photos from the Micro Four Thirds camera.
Expert review by : Elias Plastiras (goodgearguide.com.au)
Olympus beefs up its PEN Lite interchangeable lens camera, adds Wi-Fi hotspot support via Toshiba FlashAir cards
Focusing ; Screen ; In-camera filters
Won't know until we test it
Olympus has given the new version of the PEN Lite a handgrip to make it a little more comfortable to use. It has also improved the screen and the in-camera filters and focusing, making the E-PL5 a better offering than the E-PL3 that it replaces.
Expert review by : Enid Burns (digitaltrends.com)
For users upgrading from a simple point-and-shoot to an interchangeable lens camera, the Olympus PEN Lite E-PL5 is a very good camera to transition to.
Both cameras performed well and gave us crisp, focused photos. We were finding it difficult to justify the $100 to spring for the E-PL5 over the E-PM2. But then we started tilting the screen out to review photos or framing the best angle for a shot,...
Please select your alaTest site to get local reviews and prices:
We have local websites in the following countries: