Olympus PEN E-P3 vs. E-PL8: A Detailed Hands-On Comparison for Photography Enthusiasts

When Olympus launched the PEN E-P3 back in 2011, it marked a notable step for entry-level mirrorless cameras with its blend of traditional form and modern imaging tech. Fast forward five years, the PEN E-PL8 arrived with a fresh processor, higher sensor resolution, and a slew of usability tweaks. But how do these two Micro Four Thirds cameras stack up after hands-on testing through a spectrum of photographic disciplines? And crucially - which one deserves a spot in your bag today?

Having spent extensive days in the field and studio with both the Olympus E-P3 and E-PL8, I’ll share detailed technical measurements, practical shooting experience, and an impartial evaluation. From sensor to ergonomics, autofocus to video, I’ll also map their suitability across popular photography genres, rounding off with bespoke recommendations.

Let’s start by laying out the fundamental ergonomic and design differences.

At First Glance: Handling and Design Evolution

Both cameras embrace the classic rangefinder-style mirrorless aesthetic typical of Olympus PEN models, but that’s where some shared DNA ends.

The PEN E-P3 has a more compact footprint, measuring 122 x 69 x 34 mm and weighing 369 g. This gives it a slim yet somewhat angular body that feels solid yet minimalist in hand. Olympus’s choice of a fixed 3-inch OLED touchscreen with 614k-dot resolution gives you a bright, contrast-rich preview and intuitive touch focus.

In contrast, the E-PL8 trims dimensions slightly at 115 x 67 x 38 mm and weighs 357 g, making it marginally lighter despite the slightly thicker profile. It sports a tilting 3-inch touchscreen with a considerably sharper 1037k-dot resolution, enhancing flexible framing - great for low or high-angle shooting. While the older E-P3’s screen is fixed, the E-PL8 introduces creative versatility with its tilt mechanism, a feature long sought after by vloggers and street photographers.

Both offer Micro Four Thirds mount compatibility, supporting a comprehensive lens ecosystem with over 100 lenses from Olympus and partners. Build-wise, neither camera sports weather sealing - a mid-range Olympus PEN model characteristic - but both feel durable for everyday use, albeit with more plastic than metal in their chassis.

Additionally, the E-P3 includes a built-in flash, useful for fill light in dim scenarios. The E-PL8, conversely, omits the internal flash altogether, requiring external flash units for supplemental lighting. This could be a dealbreaker for those prioritizing quick fill without added gear.

Navigating controls reflects Olympus's experience over the years. The E-P3 features more tactile dials and physical buttons, whereas the E-PL8 leans more on touchscreen interfaces, trading some directness for sleek modernity.

To get a clearer picture of top control layouts, take a look at the two cameras from above:

The E-P3’s dedicated control dials allow swift manual adjustments - aperture, shutter speed, exposure compensation - an advantage for photographers accustomed to instinctive control. The E-PL8 streamlines this with fewer physical buttons, banking on touchscreen interactions and menu layers, which can slow down usability in fast-shooting scenarios.

Ergonomically, both bodies suit small hands, though the E-P3’s more pronounced grip edges hint at better one-handed stability, especially with larger lenses mounted.

Sensor and Image Quality: Resolution and Raw Potential

Imaging sensors form the heart of any camera system, so understanding how the E-P3 and E-PL8 fare here is critical.

The E-P3 houses a 12.3MP Four Thirds CMOS sensor measuring 17.3 x 13 mm, paired with the TruePic VI image processor. It supports a native ISO range from 100 to 12,800 and includes Olympus's optical anti-aliasing filter to balance sharpness and moiré suppression.

The E-PL8 steps up the resolution game with a 16MP Four Thirds CMOS sensor, equipped with a newer TruePic VII processor, pushing the native ISO sensitivity higher to 25,600 with a low native ISO of 200 and a boosted ISO to 100. Higher resolution gains detail rendition but can incur minor tradeoffs in noise performance.

According to DxOMark benchmarks (not available for E-PL8), the E-P3 ranks a respectable 51 overall - a solid base for entry-level mirrorless - with a dynamic range of about 10 stops and a color depth of over 20 bits. The newer sensor in the E-PL8 likely offers improved resolution and color fidelity given its more recent chip architecture, but lacks this formal testing.

In practical terms, I found the E-PL8 produces sharper, more detailed raw images, especially in well-lit conditions. Skin tones in portraits appear richer and more natural than those from the E-P3, which tends to slightly desaturate tones in comparison. Meanwhile, both cameras handle highlight roll-off gracefully, though the E-PL8’s sensor and processing deliver marginally better recovery in shadows and midtones - an advantage in landscape sessions with tricky contrast.

Noise performance at ISO 3200 and 6400 shows the E-PL8 maintaining cleaner images, with less luminance grain and finer shadow gradations. The trade-off for the higher pixel count is minimal noise increase at base ISOs and a slight dip in pixel pitch, but never detrimental enough to interfere with large prints or professional use at moderate ISO settings.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking in the Field

Speaking from experience timing autofocusing performance with both cameras, the E-P3 employs contrast detection with 35 focus points and boasts face detection. The E-PL8 builds upon this foundation, offering 81 AF points with face and center detections as well.

Despite Olympus's claim of no phase detection pixels in either model, the E-PL8’s newer TruePic VII processor facilitates more sophisticated autofocus algorithms. This translates to generally faster lock times and smoother continuous AF tracking.

In live shooting for portraiture and street photography, the E-PL8’s touch AF was noticeably nimbler and more responsive, reducing hunting in lower-contrast situations - a welcome improvement when capturing fleeting expressions or candid street moments.

Continuous autofocus tracking also showed gains; during burst sequences of moving subjects, the E-PL8 held focus more reliably on a shifting target, though neither camera matches the speed or sophistication of phase detection AF systems found in higher-tier Olympuses or competitors.

Note, however, that neither model supports animal eye detection - a feature only appearing much later in of Olympus’s lineup. The E-P3’s 3fps burst rate limits its suitability for fast-action wildlife or sports, whereas the E-PL8’s 8fps continuous shooting mode better caters to modest action sequences.

Screen and Interface: User Experience and Flexibility

This is where the E-PL8's modernized ergonomics really shine.

The E-P3’s fixed 3-inch OLED touchscreen provides decent clarity but lacks articulation. It’s great for steady shooting at eye level but restricts creativity for low-angle or overhead shots.

Meanwhile, the E-PL8’s 3-inch tilting LCD with nearly 1 million dots dramatically improves versatility, empowering selfies, vlogs (though it lacks built-in mics), and awkward framing without strain.

Both offer touchscreen interaction for focus selection and menu navigation, increasing intuitive control, but the E-PL8's higher resolution screen enhances visibility in bright environments. The E-P3’s OLED screen has better contrast, which some photographers may prefer, but it’s outclassed in detail rendering.

Neither camera features an integrated electronic viewfinder; both rely on optional external EVFs. For photographers shooting outdoors in sunlight, the lack of a built-in viewfinder is a significant ergonomic consideration, especially compared to contemporaries with EVFs.

Overall, the E-PL8’s interface feels more modern and user-friendly, particularly for beginners who benefit from touchscreen focus point selection and interactive menu controls.

Image Gallery: Real-World Samples Side by Side

Olympus E P3 front Olympus E P3 screen back Olympus E PL8 front Olympus E PL8 screen back

Having tested these cameras across various scenarios, here’s a curated selection contrasting their output:

• Portrait: The E-PL8’s higher pixel count and refined face detection yield sharper eye details and smoother skin transitions. Its sensor renders warmer, lifelike tones compared to the slightly cooler E-P3 palette.

• Landscape: Both deliver detailed landscapes, but the E-PL8’s extended dynamic range shines in sunset scenes, preserving subtle gradations in shadows below tree canopies and recovering faint details in the sky.

• Street: The E-P3’s quicker manual dials allowed me to react faster in dynamic street scenes, yet the E-PL8’s faster AF and burst mode captured fleeting candid moments more reliably.

• Macro: Both cameras reproduce fine macro details acceptably with compatible lenses, though neither has specialized focus stacking or bracketing features to push the macro limits.

Performance Benchmarking: Analyzing Overall and Genre-Specific Capabilities

Aggregating test results from lab measurements and field trials, here’s how these cameras perform:

• The E-P3 rates well for build quality and basic image fidelity, scoring solidly across portrait and landscape photography genres, especially given its vintage.

• The E-PL8 demonstrates notable improvements in continuous autofocus, frame rates, and sensor resolution, nudging it ahead for action and street genres, where responsiveness and resolution matter.

• Both lag in wildlife and advanced sports photography, lacking fast phase-detect AF and robust burst modes.

• In video, the E-P3 records full HD at 60fps, indicating smoother motion potential, while the E-PL8 is locked at 30fps, a curious regression meaning videographers need to weigh priorities.

• Neither model offers 4K video or advanced audio inputs, limiting their appeal for serious video-centric users.

Specific Use Cases Explored

Portrait Photography

The E-PL8 emerges as the more capable portrait tool. Its improved sensor resolution and faster 81-point AF system with face detection produce consistently sharp images with precise eye focus - a must-have in portraiture.

The E-P3 manages decent results but the slower 35-point AF and lower pixel count slightly reduce detail and precision. However, it still delivers pleasing bokeh thanks to the Micro Four Thirds sensor and lens selection, lending itself well to flattering shallow depth of field effects.

Landscape Photography

Both cameras hold their own thanks to the inherent Four Thirds sensor dynamic range of around 10 stops in E-P3 and likely a tad more in the E-PL8, but the latter’s higher resolution and better shadow recovery give it an edge for fine detail rendering.

A drawback for both is the lack of weather sealing, reducing reliability in harsh outdoor environments - a factor landscape photographers must weigh if venturing to remote or wet locations.

Wildlife Photography

Neither camera suits serious wildlife use. The E-P3’s 3 fps burst and 35-point AF struggle to keep up with erratic subjects. The E-PL8's improved 8 fps rate and 81 AF points improve matters but still fall short of the rapid phase detection and tracking systems found in flagship models.

Telephoto lenses and longer reach remain limited by the 2.1x crop factor, reducing flexibility. Both cameras are best for casual wildlife shots rather than professional work.

Sports Photography

Similar to wildlife, sports shooters will find the E-PL8’s 8 fps burst speed more conducive to freezing action than the E-P3, but neither supports predictive tracking AF crucial to fast sports.

The limited buffer depth also caps continuous shooting sequences. For serious sport shooting, a DSLR or higher-end mirrorless with dedicated phase-detect AF is advisable.

Street Photography

Here, compactness and discretion are key. Both PEN bodies are lightweight and quiet (especially with sensor-based stabilization), but the E-PL8’s tilt screen and snappier AF make it more versatile for unpredictable street scenes and low-light snaps.

The E-P3's more tactile dial layout benefits traditionalists seeking instant control, but the E-PL8’s touchscreen focusing and 8 fps burst deliver more reliability to catch fleeting moments.

Macro Photography

Neither camera offers macro-specific autofocus aids like stacking or bracketing. Their sensor stabilization combined with appropriate macro lenses, however, yield sharp details with steady hands or tripods. The choice here depends mostly on lens selection rather than body capabilities.

Night / Astrophotography

Low-noise performance at high ISO puts the E-PL8 ahead, capturing cleaner star fields and less pronounced noise at ISO settings above 3200. The E-P3’s sensor struggles comparatively, introducing more grain that can obscure subtle night details.

Neither camera offers built-in intervalometer or bulb mode accessible through interfaces, limiting astrophotography without workarounds or external triggers.

Video Capabilities

A surprising divergence arises: the older E-P3 supports 1080p at 60fps, offering smoother slow-motion footage potential. The E-PL8 limits 1080p recording to 30 fps. Neither has microphone or headphone jacks, or in-body audio control, curtailing serious videography aspirations.

Image stabilization (sensor-based in both models) helps smooth handheld footage, but limited codec choices (AVCHD, Motion JPEG vs. H.264) and absent 4K recording impede modern video workflows.

Travel Photography

When jetting off, size, weight, battery life, and versatility matter. Both PENs are lightweight and pocketable. The E-PL8’s 350-shot battery life offers a slight edge over the E-P3’s 330 frames.

Versatility favors the E-PL8 thanks to flexible tilt screen, faster continuous shooting, higher resolution output, and built-in wireless connectivity easing image transfers - features critical for travel photographers needing to share quickly.

Professional Work

Neither camera targets pro-level workflow; they lack weather sealing, high buffer depths, and advanced file format options beyond raw and JPEG. However, the E-PL8’s higher resolution sensor supports cropped detail retention, and both support raw for post-processing.

Build quality suffices for amateur professional projects but should be paired with rugged lenses and support gear when shooting demanding assignments.

Technical Deep-Dive: Build Quality and Internal Specs

Both Olympus PEN bodies use the Micro Four Thirds lens mount with roughly 2.1x crop factor, maintaining access to an extensive lens ecosystem including premium primes and zooms from Olympus, Panasonic, and third parties.

Image stabilization is sensor-based and 3-axis in the E-P3, evolving to 5-axis IBIS in the E-PL8 - significantly enhancing handheld sharpness and video steadiness.

Battery-wise, the E-PL8 relies on a modern battery pack providing marginally longer shooting endurance, though actual run-times vary with usage patterns like LCD use and flash or WiFi demands.

Storage slots for SD/SDHC/SDXC cards are single on both models.

Connectivity expands in the E-PL8 with built-in Wi-Fi, facilitating wireless image transfer and remote shooting via smartphone apps - a substantial upgrade over the E-P3’s lack of wireless features.

Though limited to USB 2.0 interfaces, both cameras include HDMI output for external monitoring, useful in studio or video.

Price-to-Performance: Which One Makes Sense Today?

Price-wise, the Olympus PEN E-P3 is available only second-hand, generally found at budget prices around $150–$250, depending on condition and kit lenses included.

The Olympus PEN E-PL8, launched around $500 new, is now often available refurbished or used near $350–$400. This puts it within reach for enthusiasts seeking modern convenience and higher resolution at moderate prices.

Absolute value leans to the E-PL8 for most users because its core upgrades - sensor, processor, autofocus, screen, connectivity - contribute tangible, everyday benefits that justify the premium.

However, some who prize tactile manual control and a built-in flash might prefer the older E-P3 and pair it with selective lenses.

Final Thoughts: Who Should Buy Which Camera?

Buy the Olympus E-P3 if:

• You’re on a strict budget seeking a compact, durable Micro Four Thirds system camera for casual shooting.
• You prioritize tactile dials and direct manual control for portrait or street photography.
• You want a small built-in flash for quick fill light without extra gear.
• You can live with lower resolution and slower continuous shooting.

Choose the Olympus E-PL8 if:

• You want sharper images with a higher resolution sensor and better low-light capabilities.
• Flexible framing via tilting touchscreen is critical to your photography or vlogging workflow.
• You need snappier autofocus and faster burst shooting for street, casual sports, or travel.
• Wireless connectivity for immediate image sharing appeals.
• You shoot moderate video and desire sensor-based 5-axis stabilization.

In sum, the Olympus PEN E-PL8 represents a well-rounded evolution, offering meaningful improvements through refined sensor technology, interface upgrades, and performance gains. The E-P3 remains a respectable entry in the PEN lineup for those valuing classic handling and budget-conscious setups.

Both are capable introduction points into Micro Four Thirds photography, but the incremental advances in the E-PL8 substantially enhance the user experience across most modern photographic needs.

I encourage photographers to consider their shooting style, ergonomic preferences, and use cases carefully, then test both in hand if possible to feel which suits your creative flow best.

Happy shooting!