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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic SZ8

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic SZ8 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
  • Announced September 2012
Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Revealed January 2014
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic SZ8 Overview

Lets look closer at the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic SZ8, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the SZ8 (16MP) is pretty close but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and SZ8 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL5 was revealed 15 months before the SZ8 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ8 being a Compact camera.

Before we go right into a full comparison, here is a short overview of how the E-PL5 grades versus the SZ8 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Panasonic SZ8

 E-PL5 SZ8 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Olympus E-PL5

 SZ8 E-PL5 
RevealedJanuary 2014September 2012More modern by 15 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic SZ8

 E-PL5 SZ8 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Screen resolution460k460kEqual screen resolution

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic SZ8 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL5 provides exterior dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ8 has sizing of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic SZ8 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the E-PL5 vs the SZ8.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic SZ8 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL5 and SZ8 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic SZ8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic SZ8 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is hard to see the gap in sensor sizes simply by looking through technical specs. The picture here will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL5 and SZ8.

As you have seen, both the cameras have the same megapixels albeit not the same sensor sizes. The E-PL5 provides the bigger sensor which is going to make getting shallower depth of field less difficult. The more aged E-PL5 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic SZ8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography details
Panasonic SZ8 Portrait photography details
71
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
saves RAW files
35
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic SZ8 as a Street photography camera
85
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
supports focus by touch
good ISO range (25,600)
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (159 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic SZ8 Sports photography highlights
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
has no phase detect auto focus
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
bad battery (200 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography details
Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography details
75
supports focus by touch
good resolution (16MP)
selfie friendly display
lack of Timelapse mode
67
lighter than average in class (159g)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
great reach (288mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
bad battery (200 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography details
Panasonic SZ8 Landscape photography details
74
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
lack of Timelapse mode
42
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
bad battery (200 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging information
Panasonic SZ8 Vlogging information
78
selfie friendly display
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lack of microphone jack
32
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
lighter than average in class (159 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone port
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic SZ8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic SZ8
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-09-17 2014-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - 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 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 1600
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-288mm (12.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-6.3
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 8.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 5.20 m
Flash settings 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
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 325 gr (0.72 pounds) 159 gr (0.35 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 889 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photos 200 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID 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/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail price $400 $275