Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SZ-11

In this write-up, we are looking at the Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SZ-11, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are manufactured by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the SZ-11 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and SZ-11 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL8 was launched 5 years later than the SZ-11 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-11 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a in depth comparison, below is a short overview of how the E-PL8 grades vs the SZ-11 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PL8 and Olympus SZ-11. The complete galleries are available at Olympus E-PL8 Gallery and Olympus SZ-11 Gallery.

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you'll have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL8 comes with physical measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") along with a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) while the Olympus SZ-11 has dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SZ-11 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have attached at that time. The following is the front view size comparison of the E-PL8 and the SZ-11.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL8 and SZ-11 is 86 and 89 respectively.

More often than not, it is very difficult to picture the contrast between sensor measurements only by reading through technical specs. The graphic here should give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL8 and SZ-11.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PL8 because of its larger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh easier and the Olympus E-PL8 will give you more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos far more aggressively. The younger E-PL8 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.