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Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SP-820UZ

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ front
Portability
69
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SP-820UZ 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
  • Released September 2016
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL7
  • Updated by Olympus E-PL9
Olympus SP-820UZ
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-896mm (F3.4-5.7) lens
  • 485g - 117 x 78 x 93mm
  • Introduced August 2012
  • Old Model is Olympus SP-820UZ
  • Refreshed by Olympus SP-820UZ
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Olympus E-PL8 and Olympus SP-820UZ, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are produced by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the SP-820UZ (14MP) is very similar but the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and SP-820UZ (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL8 was launched 4 years after the SP-820UZ which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SP-820UZ being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief summary of how the E-PL8 grades versus the SP-820UZ in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Olympus SP-820UZ

 E-PL8 SP-820UZ 
IntroducedSeptember 2016August 2012More modern by 50 months
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k460kClearer display (+577k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-820UZ over the Olympus E-PL8

 SP-820UZ E-PL8 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Olympus SP-820UZ

 E-PL8 SP-820UZ 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera often, you'll need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL8 has got exterior dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) and the Olympus SP-820UZ has measurements of 117mm x 78mm x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") having a weight of 485 grams (1.07 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL8 and Olympus SP-820UZ in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Following is a front view size comparison of the E-PL8 against the SP-820UZ.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SP-820UZ size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL8 and SP-820UZ is 86 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SP-820UZ top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to envision the difference between sensor sizes only by reviewing specifications. The image below should give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL8 and SP-820UZ.

Plainly, both of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL8 due to its larger sensor will make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-PL8 will offer you extra detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos more aggressively. The more recent E-PL8 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SP-820UZ sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Portrait photography details
Olympus SP-820UZ Portrait photography details
72
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
34
good MP (14MP)
supports face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Street photography details
Olympus SP-820UZ Street photography details
84
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
37
no moving screen
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
heavier than competition (485g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Sports photography information
Olympus SP-820UZ Sports photography information
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect AF
33
great zoom range (22-896mm 40.7 x zoom)
good MP (14 megapixels)
slow fps (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Travel photography information
Olympus SP-820UZ Travel photography information
71
comes with focus by touch
good MP (16 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
55
good MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (22mm)
very long reach (896mm)
no Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (485 grams)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus SP-820UZ as a Landscape photography camera
80
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
35
relatively wide (22mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
good MP (14MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
no manual exposure
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging information
Olympus SP-820UZ Vlogging information
35
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
does not have external mic port
25
relatively wide (22mm)
supports face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
no mic socket
heavier than competition (485g)
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Olympus SP-820UZ
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL8 Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2016-09-19 2012-08-21
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
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 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW data
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 81 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 22-896mm (40.7x)
Highest aperture - f/3.4-5.7
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 15.00 m
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB 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) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 180 (30, 240 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 357 grams (0.79 lb) 485 grams (1.07 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 117 x 78 x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 350 pictures -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $500 $299