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Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic SZ8

Portability
88
Imaging
53
Features
77
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL6 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic SZ8 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Announced August 2014
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL7
Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Released January 2014
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic SZ8 Overview

Following is a detailed analysis of the Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic SZ8, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL6 (16MP) and the SZ8 (16MP) is fairly close but the E-PL6 (Four Thirds) and SZ8 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL6 was released 7 months after the SZ8 which means that they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ8 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a thorough comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the E-PL6 scores against the SZ8 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL6 over the Panasonic SZ8

 E-PL6 SZ8 
ReleasedAugust 2014January 2014More modern by 7 months
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Olympus E-PL6

 SZ8 E-PL6 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL6 and Panasonic SZ8

 E-PL6 SZ8 
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Display resolution460k460kEqual display resolution

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic SZ8 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL6 enjoys outside measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ8 has specifications of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic SZ8 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have during that time. Here is a front view size comparison of the E-PL6 vs the SZ8.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic SZ8 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL6 and SZ8 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic SZ8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic SZ8 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to picture the difference in sensor sizes only by researching specifications. The picture underneath should offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL6 and SZ8.

To sum up, the two cameras come with the identical megapixels but different sensor sizes. The E-PL6 has the larger sensor which should make achieving shallow DOF less difficult. The more recent E-PL6 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic SZ8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Portrait photography features
Panasonic SZ8 Portrait photography features
71
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
35
good resolution (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL6
Street photography with Panasonic SZ8
85
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
comes with touch focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (159g)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Sports photography features
Panasonic SZ8 Sports photography features
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
has no phase detect autofocus
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (200 per charge)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Travel photography information
Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography information
85
comes with touch focus
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
67
lighter than competition (159g)
good resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
long reach (288mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery life (200 shots)
does not offer selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Landscape photography information
Panasonic SZ8 Landscape photography information
80
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
42
quite wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
terrible battery life (200 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL6
Vlogging with Panasonic SZ8
79
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lack of mic socket
32
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
lighter than competition (159g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not offer selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic support
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic SZ8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL6 and Panasonic SZ8
 Olympus PEN E-PL6Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL6 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2014-08-01 2014-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI Venus Engine
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 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 1600
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
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)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-6.3
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 8.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 5.20 m
Flash options 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
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
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 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
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 Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photos 200 photos
Type of battery 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
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $300 $275