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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS8

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS8 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • 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 ZS8
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 210g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Released July 2011
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS7
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS8 Overview

Below is a extensive review of the Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS8, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the ZS8 (14MP) is pretty similar but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and ZS8 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor size.

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The E-PL5 was unveiled 15 months later than the ZS8 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a detailed comparison, below is a concise summary of how the E-PL5 scores vs the ZS8 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Panasonic ZS8

 E-PL5 ZS8 
ReleasedSeptember 2012July 2011More recent by 15 months
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Olympus E-PL5

 ZS8 E-PL5 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic ZS8

 E-PL5 ZS8 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS8 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL5 provides outer dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS8 has proportions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS8 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the E-PL5 and the ZS8.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS8 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL5 and ZS8 is 88 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS8 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements simply by going over specifications. The visual here may offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL5 and ZS8.

To sum up, the two cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PL5 with its bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Olympus E-PL5 will offer more detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots far more aggressively. The newer E-PL5 should have a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL5
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS8
71
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
30
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZS8 Street photography highlights
85
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
has touch focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (210g)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography details
Panasonic ZS8 Sports photography details
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
no phase detect autofocus
47
excellent zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
includes tracking autofocus
slow fps (2.0 fps)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Travel photography camera
75
has touch focus
MP count good (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
missing Time Lapse recording
69
lighter than competition (210 grams)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
very long zoom (384mm)
no Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL5
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS8
74
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
44
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZS8 Vlogging advice
78
selfie friendly display
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
missing mic socket
30
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (210 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic port
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic ZS8
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ18
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-09-17 2011-07-19
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - 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 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 8.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 5.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data 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 325g (0.72 lbs) 210g (0.46 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 shots 340 shots
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
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $400 $275