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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS8

Portability
86 Imaging
47 Features
43 Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
Portability
92 Imaging
37 Features
39 Overall
37

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS8 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1s
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Released November 2010
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL1
  • New Model is Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic ZS8
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 210g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Revealed July 2011
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS7
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS8 Overview

In this write-up, we are reviewing the Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS8, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL1s (12MP) and the ZS8 (14MP) is very similar but the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and ZS8 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL1s was unveiled 8 months earlier than the ZS8 so they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a detailed comparison, below is a short view of how the E-PL1s matches up versus the ZS8 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Panasonic ZS8

		

		

			
 E-PL1s ZS8 
Manually focus  Dial accurate focus
		

	

	
	

		

		
Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Olympus E-PL1s

		

		

			
 ZS8 E-PL1s 
RevealedJuly 2011November 2010More recent by 8 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
		

	

	
	

		

		
Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic ZS8

		

		

			
 E-PL1s ZS8 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen  Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display  No Touch friendly display
		

	

	

	
	
	
	

	

		

		
Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS8 Physical Comparison

		

		

			
In case you're planning to lug around your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL1s comes with outer measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS8 has proportions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs).
Check the Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS8 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PL1s versus the ZS8.
Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS8 size comparison
Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1s and ZS8 is 86 and 92 respectively.
Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS8 top view buttons comparison		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS8 Sensor Comparison

		

		

			
Often, it's tough to imagine the gap between sensor measurements just by reviewing a spec sheet. The photograph underneath may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL1s and ZS8.
Clearly, the two cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL1s having a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Panasonic ZS8 will offer you more detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos far more aggressively. The older E-PL1s is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.
	
			Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS8 sensor size comparison			
		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and ViewFinder

		

		

					

		Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison	

	
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Photography Type Scores

		

	

	
Portrait Comparison
Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS8
60
 has manual focus
 sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
 features face detect focus
 supports RAW files
 low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
30
 good  resolution (14 megapixels)
 lack of manual focus
 external flash not possible
 tiny sensor (1/2.3")
 does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison
 Olympus E-PL1s as a Street photography camera
 Panasonic ZS8 as a Street photography camera
74
 built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
 sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
 supports RAW files
 no articulating screen
61
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 lighter than average (210g)
 fixed screen
 tiny sensor (1/2.3")
 does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison
Olympus E-PL1s Sports photography info
Panasonic ZS8 Sports photography info
44
 built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
 sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
 features tracking focus
 very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
 low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
 not so great battery pack (290 shots)
 no phase detect auto focus
47
 incredible zoom range (24-384mm  16.0 x zoom)
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 good  resolution (14 megapixels)
 has tracking focus
 slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
 tiny sensor (1/2.3")
 does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison
Olympus E-PL1s Travel photography information
Panasonic ZS8 Travel photography information
51
 flash built-in
 lack of Timelapse recording
 not so great battery pack (290 shots)
 low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
 does not offer selfie friendly screen
69
 lighter than average (210g)
 good  resolution (14 megapixels)
 has built in flash
 quite wide (24mm)
 great reach (384mm)
 does not have Time Lapse recording
 does not offer selfie friendly display
 somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
Photography Glossary
Landscape Comparison
Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography info
Panasonic ZS8 Landscape photography info
55
 has manual focus
 swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
 built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
 sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
 supports RAW files
 small screen (2.7")
 low resolution sensor (12MP)
 not so great battery pack (290 CIPA)
 lack of Timelapse recording
44
 quite wide (24mm)
 nice screen size (3 inches)
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 good  resolution (14MP)
 lack of manual focus
 fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
 somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
 tiny sensor (1/2.3")
 does not have RAW format
 does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison
Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging information
Panasonic ZS8 Vlogging information
29
 built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
 features face detect focus
 does not offer selfie friendly screen
 video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
 lack of microphone socket
30
 quite wide (24mm)
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 lighter than average (210 grams)
 somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
 does not offer selfie friendly display
 video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
 does not have mic socket
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic ZS8 Specifications

		

		

					

		
		

			Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic ZS8
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1s Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ18
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2010-11-16 2011-07-19
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V Venus Engine FHD
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 12MP 14MP
Anti alias filter    
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and  16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and  16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images    
Autofocusing
Focus manually    
Autofocus touch    
Autofocus continuous    
Single autofocus    
Autofocus tracking    
Selective autofocus    
Autofocus center weighted    
Multi area autofocus    
Autofocus live view    
Face detect autofocus    
Contract detect autofocus    
Phase detect autofocus    
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch capability    
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Expose Manually    
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance    
Image stabilization    
Integrated flash    
Flash distance 10.00 m 5.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe    
AEB    
White balance bracketing    
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering    
Average metering    
Spot metering    
Partial metering    
AF area metering    
Center weighted metering    
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic port    
Headphone port    
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth    
NFC    
HDMI    
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing    
Water proofing    
Dust proofing    
Shock proofing    
Crush proofing    
Freeze proofing    
Weight 334 grams (0.74 lb) 210 grams (0.46 lb)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 290 photographs 340 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature    
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $599 $275