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Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SZ-15

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Olympus SZ-15 front
Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SZ-15 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Launched September 2016
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL7
  • Updated by Olympus E-PL9
Olympus SZ-15
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-483mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 250g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Introduced June 2013
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SZ-15 Overview

Let's look much closer at the Olympus E-PL8 and Olympus SZ-15, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are produced by Olympus. The resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the SZ-15 (16MP) is pretty well matched but the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and SZ-15 (1/2.3") boast different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL8 was released 3 years later than the SZ-15 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief summation of how the E-PL8 grades vs the SZ-15 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Olympus SZ-15

 E-PL8 SZ-15 
IntroducedSeptember 2016June 2013More recent by 40 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k460kCrisper screen (+577k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Olympus E-PL8

 SZ-15 E-PL8 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Olympus SZ-15

 E-PL8 SZ-15 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SZ-15 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera often, you need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL8 features physical 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) while the Olympus SZ-15 has dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL8 and Olympus SZ-15 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you select at that time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PL8 compared to the SZ-15.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SZ-15 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL8 and SZ-15 is 86 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SZ-15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SZ-15 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements purely by checking specs. The graphic underneath may give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL8 and SZ-15.

All in all, both of the cameras feature the identical megapixel count albeit different sensor measurements. The E-PL8 comes with the bigger sensor which should make getting shallower DOF less difficult. The fresher E-PL8 should have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SZ-15 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SZ-15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SZ-15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SZ-15 as a Portrait photography camera
72
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
saves RAW formats
44
has manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
comes with face detection focus
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL8
Street photography with Olympus SZ-15
84
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
offers focus via touch
great high ISO (25,600)
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (250g)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Sports photography factors
Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography factors
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
no phase detect auto focus
53
great zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Travel photography info
Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography info
71
offers focus via touch
good resolution (16 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
68
lighter than others in class (250 grams)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (23mm)
very long zoom (483mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Landscape photography advice
Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography advice
80
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
49
has manual focus
quite wide (23mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging highlights
Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging highlights
35
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have microphone support
34
quite wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (250g)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic support
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SZ-15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Olympus SZ-15
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Olympus SZ-15
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL8 Olympus SZ-15
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2016-09-19 2013-06-21
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
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
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 81 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 23-483mm (21.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 8.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.50 m
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 357 gr (0.79 pounds) 250 gr (0.55 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 350 images -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model - SLB-10A
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $500 $200