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Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ8

Portability
85
Imaging
53
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-P5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ8 Key Specs

Olympus E-P5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 420g - 122 x 69 x 37mm
  • Introduced October 2013
  • Older Model is Olympus E-P3
Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Launched January 2014
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Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ8 Overview

Here is a comprehensive comparison of the Olympus E-P5 versus Panasonic SZ8, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-P5 (16MP) and the SZ8 (16MP) is fairly similar but the E-P5 (Four Thirds) and SZ8 (1/2.3") use different sensor sizing.

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The E-P5 was manufactured 3 months prior to the SZ8 so they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-P5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ8 being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a detailed comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-P5 scores versus the SZ8 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P5 over the Panasonic SZ8

 E-P5 SZ8 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k460kSharper display (+577k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Olympus E-P5

 SZ8 E-P5 

Common features in the Olympus E-P5 and Panasonic SZ8

 E-P5 SZ8 
LaunchedOctober 2013January 2014Similar generation
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ8 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera frequently, you need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P5 enjoys physical dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ8 has dimensions of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

See the Olympus E-P5 versus Panasonic SZ8 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the E-P5 against the SZ8.

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ8 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-P5 and SZ8 is 85 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ8 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its tough to imagine the gap between sensor sizing simply by reviewing technical specs. The photograph below should offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P5 and SZ8.

As you can tell, both of the cameras have got the exact same megapixel count but different sensor sizing. The E-P5 has got the larger sensor which is going to make obtaining shallower depth of field less difficult.

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-P5
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ8
71
you can focus manually
great flash sync speed (1/320s)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW files
35
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
features face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Street photography factors
Panasonic SZ8 Street photography factors
78
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
provides touch focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
heavier than others (420 grams)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (159g)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Sports photography advice
Panasonic SZ8 Sports photography advice
68
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
does not have phase detect AF
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery life (200 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Travel photography factors
Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography factors
68
provides touch focus
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
heavier than others (420 grams)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
67
lighter than competitors in class (159 grams)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
very long reach (288mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
bad battery life (200 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Landscape photography features
Panasonic SZ8 Landscape photography features
79
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
42
really wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
bad battery life (200 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Vlogging info
Panasonic SZ8 Vlogging info
33
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
missing mic port
heavier than others (420g)
32
really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
lighter than competitors in class (159 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic socket
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Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P5 and Panasonic SZ8
 Olympus PEN E-P5Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-P5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2013-10-03 2014-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 1600
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-288mm (12.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-6.3
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,037k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology 3:2 LCD capacitive touchscreen TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 8s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 9.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (ISO 100) 5.20 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (1st or 2nd curtain), Manual (1/1 - 1/64) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/320s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
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 420g (0.93 pounds) 159g (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 895 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photos 200 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $389 $275