Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic ZS8

Here, we are matching up the Olympus E-P3 versus Panasonic ZS8, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-P3 (12MP) and the ZS8 (14MP) is very close but the E-P3 (Four Thirds) and ZS8 (1/2.3") provide different sensor dimensions.

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The E-P3 was revealed about the same time to the ZS8 which means that they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the E-P3 grades vs the ZS8 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-P3 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8. The full galleries are provided at Olympus E-P3 Gallery & Panasonic ZS8 Gallery.

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P3 features exterior dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") and a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS8 has measurements of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-P3 versus Panasonic ZS8 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is a front view size comparison of the E-P3 and the ZS8.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-P3 and ZS8 is 86 and 92 respectively.

Usually, it is difficult to imagine the difference in sensor dimensions only by looking through specifications. The pic below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P3 and ZS8.

To sum up, the two cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-P3 with its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Panasonic ZS8 will render more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images a good deal more aggressively.