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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH8

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH8 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 313g - 110 x 64 x 37mm
  • Revealed September 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL2
Panasonic FH8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-6.4) lens
  • 123g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Released January 2012
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH8 Overview

Below is a thorough review of the Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH8, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL3 (12MP) and FH8 (16MP) and the E-PL3 (Four Thirds) and FH8 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL3 was introduced 3 months prior to the FH8 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH8 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the E-PL3 scores versus the FH8 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Panasonic FH8

 E-PL3 FH8 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH8 over the Olympus E-PL3

 FH8 E-PL3 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FH8

 E-PL3 FH8 
ReleasedSeptember 2011January 2012Similar age
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH8 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera, you will want to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL3 provides outer dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) while the Panasonic FH8 has measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 123 grams (0.27 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH8 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at that time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL3 compared to the FH8.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH8 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL3 and FH8 is 88 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH8 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements just by reading specifications. The photograph below will offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL3 and FH8.

To sum up, both of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL3 with its larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Panasonic FH8 will deliver extra detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images way more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FH8 as a Portrait photography camera
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
saves RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
34
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
provides face detect autofocus
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Street photography info
Panasonic FH8 Street photography info
84
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (123g)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography information
Panasonic FH8 Sports photography information
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
max frames per second low (6.0 fps)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
bad battery (300 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
provides tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL3
Travel photography with Panasonic FH8
44
missing Timelapse recording
bad battery (300 CIPA)
low resolution (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
69
lighter than competition in class (123g)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography details
Panasonic FH8 Landscape photography details
61
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low resolution (12 megapixels)
bad battery (300 shots)
missing Timelapse recording
43
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.5)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL3
Vlogging with Panasonic FH8
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
missing microphone port
33
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
lighter than competition in class (123g)
sluggish max aperture (f2.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic support
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Olympus E-PL3 vs Panasonic FH8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL3 and Panasonic FH8
 Olympus PEN E-PL3Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2011-09-20 2012-01-09
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Truepic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface 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 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.5-6.4
Macro focus distance - 4cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 6.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 313 gr (0.69 pounds) 123 gr (0.27 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 images 260 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $399 $149