Name: Olympus E-PL5 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 14-42mm f/3.5 II Lens, Black - Bundle - with 16GB Class 10 SDHC Memory Card, Mini-Messenger Bag, 6' Micro HDMI Cable, and Adorama Cleaning Kit for Optics and Cameras
Brand: Olympus
SKU: IOMEPL5B14Z1
Price: 359.00 USD
Availability: Discontinued
Rating: 4.5 (14 reviews)

Olympus E-PL5 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 14-42mm f/3.5 II Lens, Black - Bundle - with 16GB Class 10 SDHC Memory Card, Mini-Messenger Bag, 6' Micro HDMI Cable, and Adorama Cleaning Kit for Op...

Olympus E-PL5

Olympus E-PL5 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 14-42mm f/3.5 II Lens, Black - Bundle - with 16GB Class 10 SDHC Memory Card, Mini-Messenger Bag, 6' Micro HDMI Cable, and Adorama Cleaning Kit for Optics and Cameras

Olympus

Olympus E-PL5 Mirrorless Digital Camera w/14-42mm Lens, Black, w/16GB Bundle

Adorama

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Cameras

Mirrorless Cameras

Olympus Mirrorless Cameras

Olympus E-PL5 

Top Rated Gear: Olympus E-PL5 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 14-42mm f/3.5 II Lens, Black - Bundle - with 16GB Class 10 SDHC Memory Card, Mini-Messenger Bag, 6' Micro HDMI Cable, and Adorama Cleaning Kit for Optics and Cameras

This is the camera that's always in my bag next to one of my EM-10 bodies. I love the smaller size since it so conventiently fits into a small side pocket, always handy as back up and always handy for special shooting jobs for which I have the camera programmed via my sets.

The jewel of the PEN series.

There are a lot of things I really like about my E-PL5. The image quality is quite good. I can get usable small photos up to ISO 6400. If you're printing something larger than 4" x 6" you probably don't want to go past ISO 1600 unless you absolutely have to. I love the compact size. The lack of a viewfinder is a problem, but I got the VF-4 viewfinder, and that solves it. The only problem there is that you have to use the hotshoe, and then you can't put a flash or any other hotshoe accessory on. If you're buying a camera this serious, you really need a viewfinder...so the OM-D E-M10 might be a better value. The E-M10 is a lot cheaper than buying a Pen camera and a viewfinder new. I got my camera and viewfinder used from Craigslist at prices even below the outlet prices, so be sure to check for that before buying from Olympus if you want the lowest possible price. The biggest con, though, is the lack of phase-detect autofocus. If you take photos of moving things like sports, kids, pets, etc., this camera will struggle to track them accurately. The only current Olympus model with PDAF is the OM-D E-M1, which is ridiculous. Hey Olympus: if you want to get new users adopting your system, you need entry-level cameras that don't let them down when they try to take action shots of their kids playing sports! Put PDAF in every model, especially since entry-level DSLRs and the Sony a6000 can do this for reasonable sums of cash.

Good but could be better

I've had this (reconditioned) camera for over a year now and I've used it regularly since I bought it. The first thing to comment on is the fact that it is reconditioned. I haven't had any problems--it came to me looking brand new and working perfectly. A year on, it no longer looks new but it still works perfectly. The top dial (to change between shooting modes) did fall off but it looks like that is a common problem that is solved easily with super glue. As for the camera itself, it's not the top of the line Olympus m43 camera. It would benefit from an extra dial to adjust aperture/shutter speed and a viewfinder, but that's why you would pay more for one of the other options. It works very well, takes great pictures, and is smaller than its cousins. I keep it in my purse so I can take it almost everywhere with me.

Thumbs up

Gift for wife. She wants uncomplicated. Complex camera that can be easy to operate. She is delighted because of image stabilization and prospect of using some of my specialty lenses as she explores camera capability. The small size was really important to her as well.  My DSLRs are too big to carry all day for her 100 lbs.

Great small camera, great pictures

I purched this as a second camera, I recently bought a OMD EM-1 and was very happy with that purchase.   I love this little camera, I find myself leaving the EM-1 in my bag and using this one a lot of the time..   Great IQ and relatively simple to use (after reading the manual).. I found that I needed an electronic viewfinder to use it in bright sunlight.. I would purchase this camera again, it is fun to use...

BTW, I sold all my canon full frame cameras and L lenses and went to the Micro 4/3 format, so far no regrets...

Great walk around camera

OLYMPUS PEN E-PL5 – As a former Nikon user (30+ years) for me to switch to another camera manufacture and a completely different sensor was not an easy thing to do. But, after four months of using this camera I am enjoying it more and more every time I use it. There are several thing that I feel that a new user or potential buyer need to know. First turn on the "Super Control Panel" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_DI8uT6daA) I have found this to be a great tool and much easier to find the common thing that I like to have control of. Second is to make the "Super Fine Compression" one of your default choices. Third the "Instruction Manual" from Olympus is less than desirable, many things seem to be missing or scarcely mentioned, so search the web. Overall, I am very pleased with this camera, its image quality, build quality and handling. I am now a satisfied user of the Olympus PEN E-PL5.

Former Nikon user switches to PEN E-PL5

I decided to try my first olympus micro 4/3rds camera. I own a couple of Panasonic ones but I couldn't resist trying out the same sensor as the one the OMD EM5 has. I am very happy with the image quality. I think the Olympus cameras have better metering and white balance, in addition to the newer sensor, you are getting a great image.

Excellent Image quality

I have owned many cameras--several DSLRS, rangefinder pro cameras, and super zooms.  All of them took good pictures, but had compromises in size, weight, and ability to use quickly and with a variety of effects and shooting options.  This Olympus, with the Zuiko 12-42 and 40-200 zoom lenses does it ALL, and is far more portable than the NIkons that I sold.  They used to sit in a case, as I would end up taking a smaller camera.  Optical quality, ease of use, and overall flexibility and features make this camera UNBEATABLE at the price point.  Only the top of the line Olympus can do more, and it is larger and heavier.  Adorama was wonderful to deal with, and I LOVE the four thirds system--run out and buy it, as Olympus was the originator of this format, and NOBODY does it better.

Don't look any further--best camera ever

Nice solid feeling, great features, and the pictures are really super in low light. My first M43 and been a DSLR user. I can get over the small size and how light weight it is.

Great value for superb camera.

When you do not want lug your DSLr around Disneyland, this is definitely the camera to get. Easy to carry, plenty of filters, good under low light without flash (just be very still), clear colorful photos. Although it does have a slight reddish tint to it, can be compensated with color balance. Can shoot in raw or Jpeg or both at the same time in case you need more data. Just a great little all around camera. Oh and having Flashair is great! Kind of reminds me of my Casio 3000 when digital cameras first appeared on the scene.

Great All Around 4/3 Camera

Bougth this camera to accomodate my Fuji X-E1.   Wanted something light and compact with good image quality when I dont like to carry the bigger bag.  This camera is perfect for that. Light and small enough to fit in a big coat pocket, along with a very good image quality AF and IS.

Most people could also use it as their only camera for just about anything.  I also have the Olympus VF-2 EVF wich makes it easy for me to manual focus using non legacy lenses ( i´m over 50 and my eyesight is no longer so good with close up objects ( LCD Display ) .

The AF for still objects is about as good as it gets using a mirrorless camera.  Focuses spot on very quick in most cases. Focus tracking is not as good and I would reccomend some SLR camera if that is very important to you.

Love this camera and would reccomend it to anyone looking for a light easy to carry camerea with a good image quality.

Good Camera

The e-pl5 is a solid camera, has the ability to capture excellent images.  Compared directly with a friends omd, using the same lens and settings, the results were very close, you really have to blow up the image, and you'll notice slightly better jpg processing in the omd.  

For everyday shooting the lack of view finder rarely impedes,  I can imagine where it could be a problem if you're mainly shooting fast action sports.

I primarily pair the e-pl5 with the panny leica 25mm f1.4 lens, and it performs just as good as my t4i /w the canon 50 f1.4, and I prefer it over my canon 28 f1.8   

Iso performance is good,  you can shoot useable photos at iso 3200, without being overly noisy.

dont expect much from the flash, it's there only for emergencies.   

My only wish is if the body added another dial, to make it easier to control aperature and shutter speed, but it useable with only one dial.

If the camera was stolen,  I'd buy another, it's that good.  pair it with the panasonic 14 f2 pancake, and you have an rig that'll fit in your pocket

Nice improvements over the previous m43s

I moved up from an Olympus PL2 to this PL5.  The added technology of larger sensor, tilt LCD screen, touch focus/shutter, are vast improvements to increate your photographic creativity.  I had to give up the pop up flash on the PL2, but a little external fill flash unit IS included in the kit.  The lens is sharp, as are all Oly lenses.  Also the camera is much smaller now, very much like a sony Nex5 (maybe even smaller).  It's a bit complicated to use if one is accustomed to a simple SLR, but the flexibility is astounding.  Also the built in ART modes are fun to use.  If you're reading this review, GET THIS CAMERA.  Great deal at Adorama too.

Olympus E-PL5 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 14-42mm f/3.5 II Lens, Black - Bundle - with 16GB Class 10 SDHC Memory Card, Mini-Messenger Bag, 6' Micro HDMI Cable, and Adorama Cleaning Kit for Optics and Cameras

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