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Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic SZ8

Portability
86
Imaging
53
Features
81
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL7 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic SZ8 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Revealed September 2014
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL6
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL8
Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Introduced January 2014
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic SZ8 Overview

Let's look closer at the Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic SZ8, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL7 (16MP) and the SZ8 (16MP) is relatively close but the E-PL7 (Four Thirds) and SZ8 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL7 was announced 8 months after the SZ8 and they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ8 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a full comparison, here is a brief view of how the E-PL7 scores against the SZ8 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL7 over the Panasonic SZ8

 E-PL7 SZ8 
IntroducedSeptember 2014January 2014More modern by 8 months
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k460kCrisper screen (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Olympus E-PL7

 SZ8 E-PL7 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL7 and Panasonic SZ8

 E-PL7 SZ8 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic SZ8 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera often, you will need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL7 has outer measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ8 has proportions of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic SZ8 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the E-PL7 versus the SZ8.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic SZ8 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL7 and SZ8 is 86 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic SZ8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic SZ8 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is tough to see the difference in sensor sizes purely by viewing specs. The image below may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL7 and SZ8.

All in all, each of these cameras provide the same MP albeit not the same sensor sizes. The E-PL7 comes with the bigger sensor which should make getting shallow DOF easier. The newer E-PL7 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic SZ8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL7
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ8
71
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
supports RAW files
35
decent MP (16MP)
offers face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic SZ8 as a Street photography camera
84
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
offers focus via touch
great high ISO (25,600)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (159 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL7
Sports photography with Panasonic SZ8
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
has no phase detect auto focus
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
max fps low (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
low battery pack (200 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL7
Travel photography with Panasonic SZ8
85
offers focus via touch
good resolution (16 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
67
lighter than competition (159g)
decent MP (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
great zoom (288mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
low battery pack (200 shots)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Landscape photography details
Panasonic SZ8 Landscape photography details
79
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
42
reasonably wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual exposure
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
low battery pack (200 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Vlogging information
Panasonic SZ8 Vlogging information
78
screen is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lack of external mic support
32
reasonably wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
lighter than competition (159g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic jack
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic SZ8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL7 and Panasonic SZ8
 Olympus PEN E-PL7Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL7 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2014-09-01 2014-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII 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 area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 1600
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 81 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal 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 screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,037k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 8s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.20 m
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 357g (0.79 lb) 159g (0.35 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 873 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 shots 200 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $499 $275