Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic ZS8

Here, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-M1 III and Panasonic ZS8, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-M1 III (20MP) and ZS8 (14MP) and the E-M1 III (Four Thirds) and ZS8 (1/2.3") provide different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M1 III was revealed 8 years after the ZS8 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief summation of how the E-M1 III grades against the ZS8 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus E-M1 III Gallery & Panasonic ZS8 Gallery.

If you're intending to carry around your camera often, you will want to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 III has external measurements of 134mm x 91mm x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") having a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS8 has proportions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M1 III and Panasonic ZS8 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use during that time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the E-M1 III against the ZS8.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 III and ZS8 is 67 and 92 respectively.

Generally, it's tough to imagine the gap between sensor sizes just by reading specifications. The picture underneath will give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 III and ZS8.

To sum up, both of these cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-M1 III having a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF easier and the Olympus E-M1 III will offer more detail because of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The younger E-M1 III should have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.