Fujifilm XP140 vs Olympus E-5

The Fujifilm FinePix XP140 and the Olympus E-5 are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in February 2019 and September 2010. The XP140 is a fixed lens compact, while the E-5 is a DSLR. The cameras are based on a 1/2.3-inch (XP140) and a Four Thirds (E-5) sensor. The Fujifilm has a resolution of 15.9 megapixels, whereas the Olympus provides 12.2 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Fujifilm XP140		Olympus E-5
Fixed lens compact camera		Digital single lens reflex
28-140mm f/3.9-4.9		Four Thirds lenses
15.9 MP – 1/2.3" sensor		12.2 MP – Four Thirds sensor
4K/15p Video		720/30p Video
ISO 100-12,800		ISO 100-6,400
No viewfinder, LCD framing		Optical viewfinder
3.0" LCD – 920k dots		3.0" LCD – 920k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive)
10 shutter flaps per second		5 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilization		In-body stabilization
Waterproof body (25m)		Weathersealed body
240 shots per battery charge		750 shots per battery charge
110 x 71 x 28 mm, 207 g		142 x 117 x 75 mm, 873 g

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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Fujifilm FinePix XP140 and the Olympus E-5? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Fujifilm XP140 and the Olympus E-5 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The XP140 can be obtained in five different colors (black, blue, yellow, green, white), while the E-5 is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Olympus E-5 is considerably larger (113 percent) than the Fujifilm XP140. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments. More than that, the XP140 is water-proof up to 25m and can, thus, be used for underwater photography.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the XP140 has a lens built in, whereas the E-5 is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the E-5 and their specifications in the Four Thirds Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the XP140 gets 240 shots out of its Fujifilm NP-45S battery, while the E-5 can take 750 images on a single charge of its Olympus BLM-5 power pack. The power pack in the XP140 can be charged via the USB port, so that it is not always necessary to take the battery charger along when travelling.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Fujifilm XP140	110 mm	71 mm	28 mm	207 g	240	Y	Feb 2019	US$ 229	ebay.com
2.		Olympus E-5	142 mm	117 mm	75 mm	873 g	750	Y	Sep 2010	US$ 1 699	ebay.com
3.		Fujifilm XP120	110 mm	71 mm	28 mm	203 g	210	Y	Jan 2017	US$ 229	ebay.com
4.		Fujifilm XP130	110 mm	71 mm	28 mm	207 g	240	Y	Jan 2018	US$ 229	ebay.com
5.		Nikon W300	112 mm	66 mm	29 mm	231 g	280	Y	May 2017	US$ 389	ebay.com
6.		Olympus E-1	141 mm	104 mm	81 mm	738 g	750	Y	Jun 2003	US$ 1 699	ebay.com
7.		Olympus E-3	142 mm	116 mm	75 mm	876 g	750	Y	Oct 2007	US$ 1 699	ebay.com
8.		Olympus E-30	142 mm	108 mm	75 mm	701 g	750	n	Nov 2008	US$ 1 299	ebay.com
9.		Olympus E-510	136 mm	92 mm	68 mm	538 g	750	n	Mar 2007	US$ 799	ebay.com
10.		Olympus E-520	136 mm	92 mm	68 mm	535 g	750	n	May 2008	US$ 699	ebay.com
11.		Olympus TG-4	112 mm	66 mm	31 mm	247 g	380	Y	Apr 2015	US$ 379	ebay.com
12.		Pentax WG-90	123 mm	62 mm	30 mm	194 g	300	Y	Nov 2023	US$ 279	amazon.com
13.		Ricoh WG-6	118 mm	66 mm	33 mm	246 g	340	Y	Feb 2019	US$ 399	amazon.com
14.		Ricoh WG-60	123 mm	62 mm	30 mm	193 g	300	Y	Oct 2018	US$ 279	ebay.com
15.		Sony HX95	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	242 g	370	n	Aug 2018	US$ 429	ebay.com
16.		Sony HX99	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	242 g	370	n	Aug 2018	US$ 449	ebay.com
17.		Sony WX800	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	233 g	370	n	Oct 2018	US$ 399	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The XP140 was launched at a lower price than the E-5, despite having a lens built in. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Fujifilm XP140 features a 1/2.3-inch sensor and the Olympus E-5 a Four Thirds sensor. The sensor area in the E-5 is 704 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 5.6 and 2.0. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the Fujifilm XP140 offers a higher resolution of 15.9 megapixels, compared with 12.2 MP of the Olympus E-5. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 1.33μm versus 4.29μm for the E-5). However, it should be noted that the XP140 is much more recent (by 8 years and 5 months) than the E-5, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the XP140 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Fujifilm XP140 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the XP140 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 23 x 17.3 inches or 58.5 x 43.9 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 18.4 x 13.8 inches or 46.8 x 35.1 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 15.4 x 11.5 inches or 39 x 29.3 cm. The corresponding values for the Olympus E-5 are 20.2 x 15.1 inches or 51.2 x 38.4 cm for good quality, 16.1 x 12.1 inches or 41 x 30.7 cm for very good quality, and 13.4 x 10.1 inches or 34.1 x 25.6 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Fujifilm FinePix XP140 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12800. The corresponding ISO settings for the Olympus E-5 are ISO 100 to ISO 6400 (no boost).

In terms of underlying technology, the XP140 is build around a BSI-CMOS sensor, while the E-5 uses a CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Fujifilm XP140	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	4K/15p	20.7	12.2	1102	52
2.		Olympus E-5	Four Thirds	12.2	4032	3024	720/30p	21.6	10.5	519	56
3.		Fujifilm XP120	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	20.5	11.9	900	49
4.		Fujifilm XP130	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	20.6	12.1	1000	51
5.		Nikon W300	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	4K/30p	20.5	12.0	938	50
6.		Olympus E-1	Four Thirds	4.9	2560	1920	none	20.0	9.7	-145	44
7.		Olympus E-3	Four Thirds	10.0	3648	2736	none	21.6	10.5	571	56
8.		Olympus E-30	Four Thirds	12.2	4032	3024	none	21.3	10.4	530	55
9.		Olympus E-510	Four Thirds	10.0	3648	2736	none	21.2	10.0	442	52
10.		Olympus E-520	Four Thirds	10.0	3648	2736	none	21.4	10.4	548	55
11.		Olympus TG-4	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	20.2	11.6	737	47
12.		Pentax WG-90	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	20.9	12.8	1570	54
13.		Ricoh WG-6	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	20.7	12.2	1104	52
14.		Ricoh WG-60	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	20.6	12.2	1072	51
15.		Sony HX95	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	4K/30p	20.6	12.1	1057	51
16.		Sony HX99	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	4K/30p	20.6	12.1	1058	51
17.		Sony WX800	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	4K/30p	20.6	12.2	1070	51
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the XP140 provides a higher video resolution than the E-5. It can shoot video footage at 4K/15p, while the Olympus is limited to 720/30p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the E-5 has an optical viewfinder, which can be very useful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the XP140 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Fujifilm XP140, the Olympus E-5, and comparable cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Fujifilm XP140	none	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
2.		Olympus E-5	optical	Y	3.0 / 920	swivel	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	Y	Y
3.		Fujifilm XP120	none	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
4.		Fujifilm XP130	none	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
5.		Nikon W300	none	n	3.0 / 921	fixed	n	1/4000s	7.0/s	Y	Y
6.		Olympus E-1	optical	Y	1.8 / 134	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	n	n
7.		Olympus E-3	optical	Y	2.5 / 230	swivel	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	Y	Y
8.		Olympus E-30	optical	Y	2.7 / 230	swivel	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	Y	Y
9.		Olympus E-510	optical	n	2.5 / 215	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	Y
10.		Olympus E-520	optical	n	2.7 / 215	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.5/s	Y	Y
11.		Olympus TG-4	none	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	n	1/2000s	5.0/s	Y	Y
12.		Pentax WG-90	none	n	2.7 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	8.0/s	Y	n
13.		Ricoh WG-6	none	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	n	1/4000s	1.0/s	Y	n
14.		Ricoh WG-60	none	n	2.7 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	8.0/s	Y	n
15.		Sony HX95	638	n	3.0 / 922	tilting	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
16.		Sony HX99	638	n	3.0 / 922	tilting	Y	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
17.		Sony WX800	none	n	3.0 / 922	tilting	Y	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One feature that is present on the E-5, but is missing on the XP140 is a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

The Fujifilm XP140 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The XP140 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the E-5 uses Compact Flash or xD Picture cards. The E-5 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the XP140 only has one slot.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Fujifilm FinePix XP140 and Olympus E-5 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Fujifilm XP140	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
2.		Olympus E-5	Y	stereo / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
3.		Fujifilm XP120	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
4.		Fujifilm XP130	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
5.		Nikon W300	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
6.		Olympus E-1	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
7.		Olympus E-3	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Olympus E-30	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Olympus E-510	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Olympus E-520	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Olympus TG-4	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
12.		Pentax WG-90	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Ricoh WG-6	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	3.0	-	-	-
14.		Ricoh WG-60	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	-	-	-
15.		Sony HX95	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
16.		Sony HX99	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
17.		Sony WX800	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-

It is notable that the XP140 offers wifi support, while the E-5 does not. Wifi can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Olympus E-5 (unlike the XP140) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the XP140 and the E-5 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. Neither of the two has a direct successor, so they represent the end of the respective camera lines from Fujifilm and Olympus. Further information on the features and operation of the XP140 and E-5 can be found, respectively, in the Fujifilm XP140 Manual (free pdf) or the online Olympus E-5 Manual.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is the Fujifilm XP140 better than the Olympus E-5 or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Arguments in favor of the Fujifilm FinePix XP140:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (15.9 vs 12.2MP) with a 14% higher linear resolution.
• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/15p vs 720/30p).
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• Ready to shoot: Comes with a built-in lens, while the E-5 requires a separate lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (110x71mm vs 142x117mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter even though it comes with a built-in lens (unlike the E-5).
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Water-proof: Is rugged and sealed and can thus be used for underwater photography (up to 25m).
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
• More modern: Reflects 8 years and 5 months of technical progress since the E-5 launch.

Reasons to prefer the Olympus E-5:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Better image quality: Features bigger pixels on a larger sensor for higher quality imaging.
• Richer colors: The pixel size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger pixels capture a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger pixels means good image quality even under poor lighting.
• Easier framing: Has an optical viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• Easier setting verification: Features a control panel on top to check shooting parameters.
• More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/2000s) to freeze action.
• More flexible: Makes it possible to change lenses and thus to use specialty optics.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (750 versus 240) out of a single battery charge.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
• Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in September 2010).

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the E-5 emerges as the winner of the match-up (16 : 14 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Fujifilm XP140 and the Olympus E-5 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Travel-Zoom Camera and Best DSLR Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the XP140 and the E-5 in practical situations. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Fujifilm XP140	..	+	..	..	3.5/5	4/5	Feb 2019	US$ 229	ebay.com
2.		Olympus E-5	4/5	..	..	75/100	4/5	4.5/5	Sep 2010	US$ 1 699	ebay.com
3.		Fujifilm XP120	..	o	..	..	3.5/5	4/5	Jan 2017	US$ 229	ebay.com
4.		Fujifilm XP130	..	o	..	..	3.5/5	4/5	Jan 2018	US$ 229	ebay.com
5.		Nikon W300	..	+	..	..	4/5	4/5	May 2017	US$ 389	ebay.com
6.		Olympus E-1	..	..	..	+	o	..	Jun 2003	US$ 1 699	ebay.com
7.		Olympus E-3	..	88/100	..	+ +	o	4/5	Oct 2007	US$ 1 699	ebay.com
8.		Olympus E-30	..	..	..	71/100	4.5/5	4/5	Nov 2008	US$ 1 299	ebay.com
9.		Olympus E-510	..	89/100	..	+ +	3.5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2007	US$ 799	ebay.com
10.		Olympus E-520	..	87/100	..	+ +	4.5/5	4.5/5	May 2008	US$ 699	ebay.com
11.		Olympus TG-4	..	+	..	79/100	4/5	4/5	Apr 2015	US$ 379	ebay.com
12.		Pentax WG-90	..	..	..	..	..	..	Nov 2023	US$ 279	amazon.com
13.		Ricoh WG-6	..	..	..	..	3.5/5	3.5/5	Feb 2019	US$ 399	amazon.com
14.		Ricoh WG-60	..	..	..	..	..	..	Oct 2018	US$ 279	ebay.com
15.		Sony HX95	..	..	..	..	..	..	Aug 2018	US$ 429	ebay.com
16.		Sony HX99	..	..	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Aug 2018	US$ 449	ebay.com
17.		Sony WX800	..	..	..	..	..	..	Oct 2018	US$ 399	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Other camera comparisons

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