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Nikon Z8 vs Olympus E-M1

Portability
55 Imaging
82 Features
83 Overall
82
Nikon Z8 front
 
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
Portability
71 Imaging
52 Features
85 Overall
65

Nikon Z8 vs Olympus E-M1 Key Specs

Nikon Z8
(Full Review)
  • 46MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.20" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 64 - 25600 (Bump to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 7680 x 4320 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 910g - 144 x 119 x 83mm
  • Announced May 2023
Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Revealed October 2013
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-M1 II
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Nikon Z8 vs Olympus E-M1 Overview

Below, we will be evaluating the Nikon Z8 and Olympus E-M1, both Pro Mirrorless cameras by competitors Nikon and Olympus. There exists a sizeable gap among the resolutions of the Z8 (46MP) and E-M1 (16MP) and the Z8 (Full frame) and E-M1 (Four Thirds) come with totally different sensor measurements.

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The Z8 was released 9 years after the E-M1 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before we go through a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the Z8 matches up vs the E-M1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon Z8 over the Olympus E-M1

          

          

            
 Z8 E-M1 
RevealedMay 2023October 2013More modern by 117 months
Screen dimension3.20"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution2089k1037kClearer screen (+1052k dot)
          

        


        

          

            
Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Nikon Z8

          

          

            
 E-M1 Z8 
          

        


        

          

            
Common features in the Nikon Z8 and Olympus E-M1

          

          

            
 Z8 E-M1 
Manual focus  More exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Selfie screen  Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen  Quickly navigate
          

        

        

	
	
	
	

        

          

            
Nikon Z8 vs Olympus E-M1 Physical Comparison

          

          

            
If you are intending to carry around your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Nikon Z8 features physical dimensions of 144mm x 119mm x 83mm (5.7" x 4.7" x 3.3") having a weight of 910 grams (2.01 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-M1 has proportions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") and a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs).
Take a look at the Nikon Z8 and Olympus E-M1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the Z8 against the E-M1.
Nikon Z8 vs Olympus E-M1 size comparison
Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the Z8 and E-M1 is 55 and 71 respectively.
Nikon Z8 vs Olympus E-M1 top view buttons comparison          

        


        

          

            
Nikon Z8 vs Olympus E-M1 Sensor Comparison

          

          

            
Quite often, it is very tough to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes merely by researching specifications. The image below may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the Z8 and E-M1.
To sum up, both of the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The Z8 because of its bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF easier and the Nikon Z8 will render greater detail as a result of its extra 30 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more recent Z8 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

            Nikon Z8 vs Olympus E-M1 sensor size comparison
          

        


        

          

            
Nikon Z8 vs Olympus E-M1 Screen and ViewFinder

          

          

                      

          Nikon Z8 vs Olympus E-M1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison        


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Photography Type Scores

          

        

        
Portrait Comparison
Nikon Z8 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography highlights
89
 focusing manually
 high MP (46MP)
 sensor size is big (Full frame)
 features face detection focusing
 supports RAW formats
71
 has manual focus
 above average flash sync (1/320s)
 megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
 sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
 supports face detection focusing
 supports RAW files
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Street Comparison
Nikon Z8 Street photography advice
Olympus E-M1 Street photography advice
72
 screen tilts
 has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 sensor size is big (Full frame)
 supports RAW formats
 features focus via touch
 environment proofing
 above average ISO range (25,600)
 more heavy than average (910 grams)
77
 screen tilts
 image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
 supports RAW files
 supports focus via touch
 environment proofing
 lighter than competitors (497g)
 above average high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison
Sports photography with Nikon Z8
Sports photography with Olympus E-M1
81
 silent mode (1/32,000s)
 fast continuous shooting (30.0 frames/s)
 has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 high MP (46MP)
 sensor size is big (Full frame)
 features tracking autofocus
 environment proofing
 supports phase detect AF
 low max shutter speed (1/s)
 low battery pack (330 shots)
69
 high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
 image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 megapixel count decent (16MP)
 sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
 supports tracking autofocus
 environment proofing
 supports phase detect AF
 not so great battery pack (350 per charge)
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Travel Comparison
Nikon Z8 Travel photography details
Olympus E-M1 Travel photography details
61
 environment proofing
 has bluetooth
 features focus via touch
 high MP (46MP)
 low battery pack (330 CIPA)
 more heavy than average (910g)
 does not posses selfie friendly screen
65
 lighter than competitors (497g)
 environment proofing
 supports focus via touch
 megapixel count decent (16MP)
 not so great battery pack (350 CIPA)
 does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison
Nikon Z8 Landscape photography information
Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography information
83
 focusing manually
 swap lenses (Nikon Z mount)
 screen size is decent (3.20 inches)
 has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 high MP (46 megapixels)
 sensor size is big (Full frame)
 above average ISO range (25,600)
 supports RAW formats
 environment proofing
 two card slots
 low battery pack (330 CIPA)
72
 has manual focus
 change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
 decent sized screen (3 inch)
 image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 megapixel count decent (16MP)
 sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
 above average high ISO (25,600)
 supports RAW files
 environment proofing
 not so great battery pack (350 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison
Vlogging with Nikon Z8
Vlogging with Olympus E-M1
33
 touchscreen
 has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 features face detection focusing
 high quality video (7680 x 4320 pixels)
 comes with external microphone socket
 does not posses selfie friendly screen
 more heavy than average (910g)
36
 touchscreen functionality
 image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 supports face detection focusing
 video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
 comes with external mic socket
 lighter than competitors (497 grams)
 does not offer selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary
        
                
        

          

            
Nikon Z8 vs Olympus E-M1 Specifications

          

          

                      


          

            Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon Z8 and Olympus E-M1
 Nikon Z8Olympus OM-D E-M1
General Information
Make Nikon Olympus
Model Nikon Z8 Olympus OM-D E-M1
Class Pro Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Announced 2023-05-10 2013-10-28
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - TruePIC VII
Sensor type Stacked CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 35.9 x 23.9mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 858.0mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 46 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter    
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and  16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and  16:9
Max resolution 8256 x 5504 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 25600
Max enhanced ISO 102400 -
Min native ISO 64 100
RAW support    
Min enhanced ISO 32 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually    
AF touch    
AF continuous    
AF single    
AF tracking    
AF selectice    
Center weighted AF    
Multi area AF    
Live view AF    
Face detection AF    
Contract detection AF    
Phase detection AF    
Number of focus points 493 81
Lens
Lens mount Nikon Z Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 46 107
Focal length multiplier 1 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3.20 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 2,089 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch function    
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 3,686 thousand dots 2,360 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.8x 0.74x
Features
Min shutter speed 900 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed - 1/8000 secs
Max silent shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 30.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Expose Manually    
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB    
Image stabilization    
Built-in flash    
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes Front-curtain sync, Rear-curtain sync, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction with slow sync, Slow sync Off Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual
Hot shoe    
Auto exposure bracketing    
WB bracketing    
Max flash synchronize 1/200 secs 1/320 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering    
Average metering    
Spot metering    
Partial metering    
AF area metering    
Center weighted metering    
Video features
Video resolutions 7680 x 4320 @ 30p, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM7680 x 4320 @ 25p, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM7680 x 4320 @ 23.98p, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 120p, MOV, ProRes, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 120p, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 120p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 100p, MOV, ProRes, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 100p, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 100p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 60p, MOV, ProRes, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 60p, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 50p, MOV, ProRes, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 50p, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, ProRes, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p, MOV, ProRes, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p, MOV, ProRes, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p, MOV, H.264, L 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 7680x4320 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, H.265 H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic port    
Headphone port    
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth    
NFC    
HDMI    
USB USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing    
Water proof    
Dust proof    
Shock proof    
Crush proof    
Freeze proof    
Weight 910g (2.01 lbs) 497g (1.10 lbs)
Dimensions 144 x 119 x 83mm (5.7" x 4.7" x 3.3") 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 98 73
DXO Color Depth score 26.3 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score 14.2 12.7
DXO Low light score 2548 757
Other
Battery life 330 images 350 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL15c BLN-1
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom)
Time lapse recording    
Type of storage one CFexpress Type B slot and one UHS-II SD slot SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Dual Single
Price at release $3,999 $799