Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic GF8

Here is a thorough assessment of the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic GF8, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the E-P1 (12MP) and GF8 (16MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

Photography Glossary

The E-P1 was brought out 7 years before the GF8 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the E-P1 grades vs the GF8 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-P1 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus E-P1 Gallery & Panasonic GF8 Gallery.

For those who are planning to carry your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-P1 enjoys physical dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") and a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) and the Panasonic GF8 has proportions of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") with a weight of 266 grams (0.59 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic GF8 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have at the time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the E-P1 versus the GF8.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P1 and GF8 is 86 and 90 respectively.

Generally, it is hard to envision the contrast in sensor sizing only by looking through technical specs. The visual below will give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P1 and GF8.

As you have seen, each of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Panasonic GF8 to render greater detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The older E-P1 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.