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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-PL8

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-PL8 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Revealed October 2013
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-M1 II
Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Launched September 2016
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL7
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL9
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-PL8 Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Olympus E-M1 and Olympus E-PL8, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are created by Olympus. The resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the E-PL8 (16MP) is fairly similar and they use the exact same sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-M1 was announced 3 years prior to the E-PL8 which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going in to a complete comparison, below is a short introduction of how the E-M1 grades vs the E-PL8 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Olympus E-PL8

 E-M1 E-PL8 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Olympus E-M1

 E-PL8 E-M1 
LaunchedSeptember 2016October 2013More modern by 35 months

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Olympus E-PL8

 E-M1 E-PL8 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Display resolution1037k1037kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-PL8 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M1 provides external dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") and a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Olympus E-PL8 has sizing of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-M1 and Olympus E-PL8 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you choose during that time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the E-M1 compared to the E-PL8.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-PL8 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 and E-PL8 is 71 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-PL8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-PL8 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is difficult to see the contrast between sensor sizes merely by reading specifications. The pic below should provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 and E-PL8.

To sum up, the two cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the same MP so you should expect similar quality of photos but you have to factor the release date of the products into consideration. The more aged E-M1 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-PL8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-PL8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-PL8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography advice
Olympus E-PL8 Portrait photography advice
71
manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/320 seconds)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
72
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography features
Olympus E-PL8 Street photography features
78
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
includes touch to focus
environment proofing
lighter than competitors (497 grams)
great ISO range (25,600)
84
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
includes touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography highlights
Olympus E-PL8 Sports photography highlights
70
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
environment proofing
has phase detect autofocus
terrible battery life (350 shots)
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M1
Travel photography with Olympus E-PL8
65
lighter than competitors (497g)
environment proofing
includes touch to focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
terrible battery life (350 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
71
includes touch focus
MP count good (16 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography factors
Olympus E-PL8 Landscape photography factors
73
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
terrible battery life (350 shots)
80
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging features
Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging features
36
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has mic support
lighter than competitors (497 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
35
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
doesn't have mic support
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-PL8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Olympus E-PL8
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Olympus PEN E-PL8
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Olympus PEN E-PL8
Class Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2013-10-28 2016-09-19
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePIC VII TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Lowest boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 81 81
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,037k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per second 8.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/320s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 497 grams (1.10 lbs) 357 grams (0.79 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light rating 757 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 images 350 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $799 $500