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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS8

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS8 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
Panasonic ZS8
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 210g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Launched July 2011
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS7
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic ZS8, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the ZS8 (14MP) is relatively comparable but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and ZS8 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-M1 was introduced 2 years later than the ZS8 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a in-depth comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the E-M1 grades against the ZS8 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Panasonic ZS8

 E-M1 ZS8 
LaunchedOctober 2013July 2011Fresher by 28 months
Focus manually Very exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k230kCrisper screen (+807k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Olympus E-M1

 ZS8 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic ZS8

 E-M1 ZS8 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera, you should consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-M1 offers exterior measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS8 has specifications of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic ZS8 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 based on the lens you are using during that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the E-M1 versus the ZS8.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS8 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 and ZS8 is 71 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to envision the contrast in sensor sizing simply by checking out specifications. The visual below may offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 and ZS8.

Plainly, the two cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-M1 having a bigger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Olympus E-M1 will provide more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more recent E-M1 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS8 Portrait photography advice
71
manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/320 seconds)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
30
resolution is good (14MP)
no manual focus
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Street photography camera
78
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
comes with focus via touch
weather proofing
lighter than competitors (497g)
above average high ISO (25,600)
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (210g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography factors
Panasonic ZS8 Sports photography factors
70
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect AF
bad battery pack (350 per charge)
47
long zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
offers tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography information
Panasonic ZS8 Travel photography information
65
lighter than competitors (497g)
weather proofing
comes with focus via touch
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
bad battery pack (350 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than competition (210g)
resolution is good (14MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
long zoom (384mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZS8 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)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
bad battery pack (350 per charge)
44
decently wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M1
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS8
36
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external mic socket
lighter than competitors (497 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
30
decently wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (210g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic jack
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic ZS8
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ18
Type Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-10-28 2011-07-19
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePIC VII Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 81 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.00 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, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max 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 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 497 gr (1.10 lbs) 210 gr (0.46 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light score 757 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 shots 340 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $799 $275