Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic SZ8

Following is a in depth comparison of the Olympus E-PL1s versus Panasonic SZ8, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a considerable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL1s (12MP) and SZ8 (16MP) and the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and SZ8 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL1s was revealed 4 years earlier than the SZ8 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ8 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a complete comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the E-PL1s scores vs the SZ8 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PL1s & Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8. The full galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL1s Gallery & Panasonic SZ8 Gallery.

In case you're planning to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL1s has external measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ8 has proportions of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL1s versus Panasonic SZ8 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are employing during that time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL1s versus the SZ8.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1s and SZ8 is 86 and 94 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to envision the contrast in sensor sizes purely by looking through specs. The picture underneath might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1s and SZ8.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL1s with its larger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic SZ8 will result in more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1s will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.