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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS8

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS8 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Updated by Olympus E-PL3
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
  • Announced July 2011
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS7
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS8 Overview

Below is a detailed assessment of the Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS8, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the ZS8 (14MP) is fairly similar but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and ZS8 (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL2 was unveiled 5 months before the ZS8 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a detailed comparison, below is a simple summation of how the E-PL2 grades against the ZS8 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Panasonic ZS8

 E-PL2 ZS8 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Olympus E-PL2

 ZS8 E-PL2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic ZS8

 E-PL2 ZS8 
AnnouncedFebruary 2011July 2011Similar generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS8 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera, you have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL2 features outside dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS8 has measurements of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS8 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilising at the time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PL2 vs the ZS8.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS8 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL2 and ZS8 is 85 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS8 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements simply by reviewing specs. The photograph here will give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL2 and ZS8.

As you can plainly see, both cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL2 with its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF simpler and the Panasonic ZS8 will offer you extra detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
30
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography factors
Panasonic ZS8 Street photography factors
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (210g)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Sports photography camera
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (280 shots)
no phase detect AF
47
incredible zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
slow fps (2.0 frames per second)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography details
Panasonic ZS8 Travel photography details
51
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery power (280 per charge)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than others in class (210g)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
very long reach (384mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
does not have selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography information
Panasonic ZS8 Landscape photography information
61
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (280 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
44
rather wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL2
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS8
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic port
30
rather wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (210g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic jack
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic ZS8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic ZS8
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ18
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-02-11 2011-07-19
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
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 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt 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
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 362g (0.80 pounds) 210g (0.46 pounds)
Dimensions 114 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 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 280 shots 340 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch price $0 $275