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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL8

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL8 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(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
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M5 II
Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Revealed September 2016
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL7
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL9
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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL8 Overview

Below is a complete review of the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus E-PL8, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are manufactured by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the E-PL8 (16MP) is relatively well matched and they come with the exact same sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-M5 was brought out 5 years before the E-PL8 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-M5 scores against the E-PL8 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Olympus E-PL8

 E-M5 E-PL8 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Olympus E-M5

 E-PL8 E-M5 
RevealedSeptember 2016April 2012More recent by 53 months
Screen resolution1037k610kClearer screen (+427k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus E-PL8

 E-M5 E-PL8 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL8 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 offers exterior dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Olympus E-PL8 has dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus E-PL8 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the E-M5 and the E-PL8.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL8 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 and E-PL8 is 81 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL8 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to picture the difference between sensor measurements purely by looking at specs. The graphic here should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 and E-PL8.

All in all, both of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the same resolution and you can expect similar quality of pictures however you really should consider the age of the products into consideration. The older E-M5 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M5
Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL8
71
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
72
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-PL8 as a Street photography camera
82
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
boasts focus via touch
environment sealing
above average ISO range (25,600)
84
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
provides touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography details
Olympus E-PL8 Sports photography details
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
environment sealing
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography information
Olympus E-PL8 Travel photography information
66
environment sealing
boasts focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
71
provides touch to focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus E-PL8 Landscape photography highlights
73
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
80
manual focus
interchangeable 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)
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Vlogging information
Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging information
34
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic socket
35
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone support
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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Olympus E-PL8
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Olympus PEN E-PL8
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Olympus PEN E-PL8
Category Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-04-30 2016-09-19
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 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
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 200
RAW images
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 35 81
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 610k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 9.0fps 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) no built-in flash
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425g (0.94 lb) 357g (0.79 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 826 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 350 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $799 $500