Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ8

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.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus OM-D E-M1 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus E-M1 Gallery and Panasonic SZ8 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.