Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF8

On this page, we are contrasting the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic GF8, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a substantial difference between the image resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and GF8 (16MP) but both cameras have the same sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL1 was unveiled 6 years earlier than the GF8 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going into a thorough comparison, here is a simple summation of how the E-PL1 grades versus the GF8 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PL1 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-PL1 Gallery & Panasonic GF8 Gallery.

For those who are going to carry around your camera regularly, you should think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL1 provides external dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Panasonic GF8 has specifications of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 266 grams (0.59 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic GF8 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose at the time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL1 vs the GF8.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1 and GF8 is 86 and 90 respectively.

Oftentimes, it can be tough to visualize the difference between sensor sizes merely by going over technical specs. The picture underneath may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL1 and GF8.

As you can tell, both the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Panasonic GF8 to deliver greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.