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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FP8

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
20
Overall
29

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FP8 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
  • Revealed September 2012
Panasonic FP8
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 151g - 96 x 60 x 20mm
  • Launched July 2009
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FP8 Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FP8, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Ultracompact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a noticeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL5 (16MP) and FP8 (12MP) and the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and FP8 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL5 was unveiled 3 years after the FP8 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FP8 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick overview of how the E-PL5 grades vs the FP8 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Panasonic FP8

 E-PL5 FP8 
LaunchedSeptember 2012July 2009More modern by 39 months
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FP8 over the Olympus E-PL5

 FP8 E-PL5 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic FP8

 E-PL5 FP8 

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FP8 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL5 has outer dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Panasonic FP8 has specifications of 96mm x 60mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 151 grams (0.33 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FP8 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with at the time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the E-PL5 against the FP8.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FP8 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL5 and FP8 is 88 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FP8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FP8 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's tough to see the gap between sensor sizes simply by going over a spec sheet. The pic underneath might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL5 and FP8.

Clearly, each of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL5 with its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Olympus E-PL5 will deliver extra detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The younger E-PL5 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FP8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FP8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FP8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography info
Panasonic FP8 Portrait photography info
71
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
21
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography information
Panasonic FP8 Street photography information
85
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
has focus via touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
55
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
more heavy than competition in class (151 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL5
Sports photography with Panasonic FP8
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
has no phase detect AF
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
low max shutter speed (1/1,300 seconds)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography info
Panasonic FP8 Travel photography info
75
has focus via touch
megapixel count good (16MP)
display is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse function
56
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition in class (151g)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL5
Landscape photography with Panasonic FP8
74
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
does not have Timelapse function
32
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual exposure
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
no Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL5
Vlogging with Panasonic FP8
78
display is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have microphone socket
28
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone support
more heavy than competition in class (151 grams)
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FP8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic FP8
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Revealed 2012-09-17 2009-07-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine V
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 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-128mm (4.6x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1300 secs
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 5.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325g (0.72 pounds) 151g (0.33 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 96 x 60 x 20mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photographs -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail price $400 $300