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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH8

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH8 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Released September 2012
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-PL5 vs Panasonic FH8 Overview

Here, we are contrasting the Olympus E-PL5 versus Panasonic FH8, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the FH8 (16MP) is very similar but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and FH8 (1/2.3") boast different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL5 was launched 9 months later than the FH8 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH8 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a thorough comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the E-PL5 matches up against the FH8 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Panasonic FH8

 E-PL5 FH8 
ReleasedSeptember 2012January 2012More recent by 9 months
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH8 over the Olympus E-PL5

 FH8 E-PL5 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic FH8

 E-PL5 FH8 
Display size3"3"Same display measurements

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH8 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera, you need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL5 has outside dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Panasonic FH8 has dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 123 grams (0.27 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL5 versus Panasonic FH8 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you select at that moment. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the E-PL5 versus the FH8.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH8 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL5 and FH8 is 88 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH8 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's tough to picture the gap between sensor measurements purely by reviewing specifications. The visual underneath will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL5 and FH8.

Plainly, each of the cameras come with the identical megapixel count but different sensor measurements. The E-PL5 includes the larger sensor which should make obtaining bokeh simpler. The more recent E-PL5 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FH8 as a Portrait photography camera
71
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
34
good resolution (16MP)
provides face detect focus
no manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FH8 as a Street photography camera
85
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
offers focus by touch
great ISO range (25,600)
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (123 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography info
Panasonic FH8 Sports photography info
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
has no phase detect autofocus
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
provides tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography advice
Panasonic FH8 Travel photography advice
75
offers focus by touch
resolution is good (16MP)
selfie friendly screen
does not have Timelapse recording
69
lighter than competitors (123 grams)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
doesn't have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic FH8 Landscape photography highlights
74
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
43
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging advice
Panasonic FH8 Vlogging advice
78
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have microphone support
33
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
lighter than competitors (123 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic port
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic FH8
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-09-17 2012-01-09
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
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 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.5-6.4
Macro focus range - 4cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
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 325 gr (0.72 lb) 123 gr (0.27 lb)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" 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 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 889 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photos 260 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $400 $149