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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic ZS8

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Released July 2009
  • Replacement is Olympus E-P2
Panasonic ZS8
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 210g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Revealed July 2011
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS7
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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Overview

The following is a comprehensive overview of the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic ZS8, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the ZS8 (14MP) is fairly close but the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and ZS8 (1/2.3") provide different sensor sizing.

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The E-P1 was announced 24 months earlier than the ZS8 making them a generation away from one another. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-P1 grades against the ZS8 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Panasonic ZS8

 E-P1 ZS8 
Manually focus More precise focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Olympus E-P1

 ZS8 E-P1 
RevealedJuly 2011July 2009Newer by 24 months

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic ZS8

 E-P1 ZS8 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera often, you will need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P1 comes with outside measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") along with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS8 has dimensions 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-P1 and Panasonic ZS8 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you select at that time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the E-P1 and the ZS8.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic ZS8 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P1 and ZS8 is 86 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic ZS8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions merely by researching a spec sheet. The picture underneath might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P1 and ZS8.

As you can see, each of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-P1 having a larger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic ZS8 will provide you with extra detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics way more aggressively. The more aged E-P1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic ZS8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-P1
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS8
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
delivers RAW files
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
30
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Street photography info
Panasonic ZS8 Street photography info
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (210g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Sports photography factors
Panasonic ZS8 Sports photography factors
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
resolution not great (12MP)
not so great battery life (300 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
47
excellent zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
provides tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Travel photography info
Panasonic ZS8 Travel photography info
43
lack of Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (300 CIPA)
resolution not great (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
69
lighter than others (210 grams)
megapixel count good (14MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
very long reach (384mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZS8 Landscape photography advice
60
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
not so great battery life (300 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
44
fairly wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Vlogging details
Panasonic ZS8 Vlogging details
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic socket
30
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (210 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic port
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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic ZS8
 Olympus PEN E-P1Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-P1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ18
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2009-07-29 2011-07-19
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V 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 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 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)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 355 gr (0.78 lbs) 210 gr (0.46 lbs)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photographs 340 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $182 $275