Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus E-PM2

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-PL8 and Olympus E-PM2, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras and they are both manufactured by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the E-PM2 (16MP) is relatively comparable and both cameras offer the same sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The E-PL8 was brought out 3 years later than the E-PM2 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving right into a detailed comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-PL8 grades versus the E-PM2 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL8 & Olympus PEN E-PM2. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PL8 Gallery & Olympus E-PM2 Gallery.

In case you're looking to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL8 comes with exterior dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PM2 has dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL8 and Olympus E-PM2 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at that time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the E-PL8 compared to the E-PM2.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL8 and E-PM2 is 86 and 89 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is difficult to visualise the gap in sensor measurements simply by going through specifications. The visual below should give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL8 and E-PM2.

To sum up, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the same exact MP and you can expect comparable quality of pictures however you would want to consider the launch date of the cameras into account. The more modern E-PL8 will have an advantage in sensor innovation.