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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF8

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 front
Portability
90
Imaging
54
Features
62
Overall
57

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF8 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Introduced May 2010
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PL1s
Panasonic GF8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 266g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Launched February 2016
  • Old Model is Panasonic GF7
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF8 Overview

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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Panasonic GF8

 E-PL1 GF8 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF8 over the Olympus E-PL1

 GF8 E-PL1 
LaunchedFebruary 2016May 2010More modern by 70 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1040k230kSharper display (+810k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic GF8

 E-PL1 GF8 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF8 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF8 size comparison

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

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF8 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic GF8 as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
65
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography details
Panasonic GF8 Street photography details
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
fixed screen
80
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL1
Sports photography with Panasonic GF8
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
low frames per second (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery pack (290 per charge)
lacks phase detect autofocus
49
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
low maximum shutter speed (1/500 seconds)
low frames per second (5.8 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery life (230 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic GF8 as a Travel photography camera
51
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (290 shots)
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
66
boasts touch to focus
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
no Timelapse function
not so great battery life (230 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography info
Panasonic GF8 Landscape photography info
55
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7")
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery pack (290 shots)
no Timelapse recording
65
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery life (230 CIPA)
no Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic GF8 as a Vlogging camera
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone socket
33
has touchscreen
has face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
no external microphone support
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GF8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic GF8
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2010-05-17 2016-02-15
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4592 x 3448
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Minimum enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/500 seconds
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec 5.8 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 5.60 m (at ISO 200)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, flash off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 334g (0.74 lb) 266g (0.59 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 54 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 487 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 pictures 230 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3-shot/10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $288 $549