Olympus E5

The Olympus E-5 is a DSLR released in 2010, built around a weather-sealed body and a full-size optical pentaprism viewfinder. At 800 g it is a substantial camera that handles like a traditional DSLR rather than a compact body.

That build suits photographers who work outdoors and want a camera that tolerates rain and dust rather than retreating to a bag. In-body stabilisation works with any mounted lens, which matters if you plan to build a kit gradually.

Owning one involves some trade-offs from its age. There is no wireless connectivity, and video capability tops out at Standard HD resolution.

The Optics score of 47 is modest, and the E-5 sits in the bottom 19% of cameras in our database for Optics. Much of that reflects its 2010 origins: a 12.3 megapixel NMOS sensor in the Micro Four Thirds format leaves little room for heavy cropping or large prints.

In-body stabilisation is the one optics feature that earned full marks in our scoring. It reduces camera shake, so handheld shooting at slower shutter speeds or longer focal lengths stays usable. Because the system sits in the body, it works with any lens you mount.

The ISO range runs from 100 to 6400, so options in very dim light are limited. Continuous shooting reaches a maximum of 5 fps, enough for brief action moments rather than long sequences. Autofocus uses 11 points, and a 1/8000s top shutter speed helps when shooting wide open in bright light.

Framing happens through an optical pentaprism viewfinder, which gives a direct view through the lens with no electronic delay. That suits anyone who likes a traditional DSLR shooting experience.

The Video score of 34 is limited, and this is clearly a stills camera first. Maximum recording resolution is Standard HD, and the highest frame rate offered is 30 fps, so clips suit casual sharing and family footage rather than large-screen work.

Recording uses the MPEG-4 file format for its clips. There is no built-in timelapse function, so in-camera motion options are limited to movie recording within the resolution and frame-rate ceilings already described.

For a photographer whose main interest is stills and who wants occasional video alongside them, the E-5 covers the basics. Anything more ambitious in motion work will hit the resolution ceiling quickly, and the 30 fps maximum rules out slow-motion capture.

The Features score of 54 is modest, yet the parts that matter day to day are covered. The 3-inch LCD carries 920,000 dots for reviewing images, and it flips out for framing at waist level or overhead. Live view adds another way to compose when the viewfinder does not suit the shot.

There is no touchscreen, so menus and settings are handled with physical controls. The body is weather sealed against dust and rain, which is not the same as waterproof, but it gives confidence in poor conditions. A built-in flash covers fill light, and external flash units are also supported.

Nothing connects wirelessly. With no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or GPS, images cannot be sent over the air, and the camera cannot tag your location by itself.

The Storage & Battery score of 71 is good. Two card slots take SD, SDHC and SDXC media alongside CompactFlash Type I or II cards, so you can use whichever format you already own and keep a fresh card ready during long shoots.

The BLM-5 battery is rated at 870 shots. Real endurance depends on your settings and habits, so treat the figure as an indicator rather than a guarantee. It is a comfortable rating for a camera built primarily for stills.

There is no USB charging, so topping up the battery over a cable is not an option. For longer trips, a spare BLM-5 is one way to keep shooting.