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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ8

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ8 Key Specs

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
  • Released October 2013
  • Successor is Olympus E-M1 II
Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Revealed January 2014
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ8 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus E-M1 versus Panasonic SZ8, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the SZ8 (16MP) is relatively well matched but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and SZ8 (1/2.3") provide different sensor sizing.

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The E-M1 was announced 2 months before the SZ8 and they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ8 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise view of how the E-M1 matches up versus the SZ8 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Panasonic SZ8

 E-M1 SZ8 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k460kCrisper screen (+577k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Olympus E-M1

 SZ8 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic SZ8

 E-M1 SZ8 
RevealedOctober 2013January 2014Similar generation
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ8 Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M1 comes with outside measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") along with a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ8 has measurements of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M1 versus Panasonic SZ8 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use at that time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the E-M1 compared to the SZ8.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ8 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and SZ8 is 71 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ8 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is hard to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions only by looking at technical specs. The image here will provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 and SZ8.

As you can tell, each of these cameras come with the identical megapixels albeit different sensor dimensions. The E-M1 features the bigger sensor which is going to make achieving shallow depth of field easier.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography details
Panasonic SZ8 Portrait photography details
71
manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/320 seconds)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
saves RAW formats
35
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
offers face detect autofocus
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic SZ8 as a Street photography camera
78
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
offers touch to focus
weather proof
lighter than others (497g)
good high ISO (25,600)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (159 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography details
Panasonic SZ8 Sports photography details
70
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
terrible battery (350 CIPA)
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (200 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography details
Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography details
65
lighter than others (497g)
weather proof
offers touch to focus
resolution is good (16MP)
terrible battery (350 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
67
lighter than competition in class (159 grams)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
great reach (288mm)
no Timelapse function
terrible battery power (200 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography details
Panasonic SZ8 Landscape photography details
73
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
terrible battery (350 shots)
42
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
terrible battery power (200 CIPA)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic SZ8 as a Vlogging camera
36
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external microphone jack
lighter than others (497g)
display is not selfie friendly
32
rather wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
lighter than competition in class (159g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone jack
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic SZ8
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
Class Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2013-10-28 2014-01-06
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePIC VII Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 1600
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 81 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-288mm (12.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.1-6.3
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,037k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.20 m
Flash modes Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/320 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 497 grams (1.10 lb) 159 grams (0.35 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
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 200 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $799 $275