I bought this camera system, because I want to have the features and quality of a SLR camera and yet compact like.
Software, Operation: The service is good, the hub of e PL5 is a bit small, very good workmanship and it fits comfortably in your hand. Display can be folded, which is important to me. Battery life is eternal long and the camera is pretty fast. Top. In software terms, I am spoiled by Canon and did not like the firmware of Panasonic cameras. The Olympus is indeed questionable preset. For example, the Live View is disabled. After configuration, the firmware is really top. There is a menu that shows all important settings and you can really control everything: WB, ISO, shutter, aperture, AF, timer, color curves, BULB, Bracket .... Touch Focus is very nice.
Image quality: Wow really great. I have looked at countless tests and comparison images. From the sharpness and noise performance even slightly better than an EOS 600D. The small sensor is not a disadvantage. Even ISO 6400 still looks okay. Only the depth is slightly lower f1.8 is about F2.3. Nevertheless, good bokeh is possible by means of kit lens.
If I'm talking about the lens:
It's really good. Very sharp and little chromatic aberration. The focus and zoom has just the right resistance. Unfortunately, it has no focus or stop the focus does not end at infinity. Infinity is (14mm f3.5) with this objective from 11 meters. Sadly you can furthermore focus. Who wants night's photographing the night sky, max must focus, about a quarter turn back round. The rest you have to focus guess with many test images.
Functionality:
You can really do everything and that's so beautiful. Remote release, lens switch, ND filter, BULB, Manual Video mode (own ISO, exposure and aperture setting). All points where even premium compact cameras fail. With the software, you can take care of everything. While the RAW Tool for the PC is sufficient, but Canon offers more.
Accessories, Lenses & options:
There are many lenses, but the prices are earthly. A f 1.8 19 / 35mm prime lens will cost 315. For Canon DSLR only 79. Sony Alpha just over 100. Well, the "plastic disk" costs have bought used a 20mm F1.7 Panasonic for 200. Many lenses from other manufacturers are significantly fainter and more expensive than the Nikon and Canon for Sony cameras. A microphone adapter + microphone costs 98. Hello? What is interesting is that films are played on a 16 mm film. This means that the lenses are almost compatible. Only the thread has to be adapted via adapter. There are countless lenses that are of interest. But this should be at least 4K compatible because the photos of the E-PL5 dissolve about 5k. After all, the kit zoom lens priced low (141), if you consider the quality.
I like this Micro 4/3 standard. It would be nice if there were a little more affordable, good lenses and accessories. Similarly, as with Nikon or Canon. This is the only major advantage large cameras.
Conclusion: Very good camera, who before has to buy a lot of lenses, perhaps should a APS-C DSLR set. Otherwise the E-PL5 is a beautiful part of the 310th
