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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS8

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS8 Key Specs

Olympus E-P2
(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
  • Launched April 2010
  • Superseded the Olympus E-P1
  • Updated by Olympus E-P3
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
  • Introduced July 2011
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS7
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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS8 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic ZS8, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-P2 (12MP) and the ZS8 (14MP) is pretty close but the E-P2 (Four Thirds) and ZS8 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-P2 was brought out 15 months before the ZS8 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a thorough comparison, here is a short highlight of how the E-P2 grades versus the ZS8 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P2 over the Panasonic ZS8

 E-P2 ZS8 
Manual focus More accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Olympus E-P2

 ZS8 E-P2 
IntroducedJuly 2011April 2010Newer by 15 months

Common features in the Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic ZS8

 E-P2 ZS8 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS8 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P2 offers outer dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") and a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS8 has sizing of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic ZS8 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the E-P2 versus the ZS8.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS8 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-P2 and ZS8 is 86 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS8 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very difficult to see the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by viewing specs. The picture below will provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P2 and ZS8.

All in all, both of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-P2 because of its bigger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field simpler and the Panasonic ZS8 will result in more detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged E-P2 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Portrait photography information
Panasonic ZS8 Portrait photography information
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
exports RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
30
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZS8 Street photography highlights
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (210 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Sports photography features
Panasonic ZS8 Sports photography features
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (300 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
47
long zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-P2
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS8
43
does not have Timelapse mode
not so great battery power (300 CIPA)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
69
lighter than competitors in class (210 grams)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
great reach (384mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P2 Landscape photography information
Panasonic ZS8 Landscape photography information
60
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (300 shots)
does not have Timelapse mode
44
quite wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
no manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P2
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS8
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone jack
30
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (210g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone support
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Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic ZS8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic ZS8
 Olympus PEN E-P2Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-P2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ18
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2010-04-22 2011-07-19
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic V Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
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)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.00 m
Flash options 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
Maximum flash synchronize 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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 355 grams (0.78 lbs) 210 grams (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 All around rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 505 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photos 340 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $799 $275