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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ8

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ8 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL1s
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PL3
Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump 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-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ8 Overview

Following is a thorough analysis of the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic SZ8, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizeable gap among the resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and SZ8 (16MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and SZ8 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL2 was revealed 3 years prior to the SZ8 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ8 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-PL2 matches up vs the SZ8 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Panasonic SZ8

 E-PL2 SZ8 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Olympus E-PL2

 SZ8 E-PL2 
LaunchedJanuary 2014February 2011More modern by 35 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic SZ8

 E-PL2 SZ8 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Display resolution460k460kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ8 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL2 comes with exterior dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ8 has sizing of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic SZ8 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. Here is a front view size comparison of the E-PL2 versus the SZ8.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ8 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL2 and SZ8 is 85 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ8 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to see the contrast in sensor sizes simply by viewing a spec sheet. The picture underneath might give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL2 and SZ8.

Clearly, both of the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL2 having a larger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Panasonic SZ8 will result in more detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-PL2 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography information
Panasonic SZ8 Portrait photography information
60
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
35
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
provides face detection focusing
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography information
Panasonic SZ8 Street photography information
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no moving screen
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (159 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography details
Panasonic SZ8 Sports photography details
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
max fps low (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
low battery life (280 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
max frames per second low (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
low battery (200 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography details
Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography details
51
flash built-in
missing Timelapse mode
low battery life (280 shots)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
67
lighter than competition (159 grams)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
long zoom (288mm)
missing Timelapse recording
low battery (200 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic SZ8 as a Landscape photography camera
61
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
low battery life (280 per charge)
missing Timelapse mode
42
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
low battery (200 CIPA)
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging details
Panasonic SZ8 Vlogging details
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone support
32
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
lighter than competition (159g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone jack
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic SZ8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic SZ8
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-02-11 2014-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 1600
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-288mm (12.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-6.3
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 8s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m 5.20 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 362 gr (0.80 lb) 159 gr (0.35 lb)
Physical dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 280 photographs 200 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $0 $275