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Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus TG-310

Portability
86
Imaging
55
Features
76
Overall
63
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Olympus TG-310 front
Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus TG-310 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
  • Revealed September 2016
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL7
  • New Model is Olympus E-PL9
Olympus TG-310
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-102mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 155g - 96 x 63 x 23mm
  • Announced January 2011
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus TG-310 Overview

Below, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-PL8 versus Olympus TG-310, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Waterproof and they are both built by Olympus. The resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the TG-310 (14MP) is relatively close but the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and TG-310 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL8 was released 5 years later than the TG-310 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-310 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a short view of how the E-PL8 scores vs the TG-310 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Olympus TG-310

 E-PL8 TG-310 
AnnouncedSeptember 2016January 2011Fresher by 70 months
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1037k230kClearer screen (+807k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-310 over the Olympus E-PL8

 TG-310 E-PL8 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Olympus TG-310

 E-PL8 TG-310 
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus TG-310 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera frequently, you will want to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL8 enjoys external dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) while the Olympus TG-310 has sizing of 96mm x 63mm x 23mm (3.8" x 2.5" x 0.9") and a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL8 versus Olympus TG-310 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PL8 versus the TG-310.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus TG-310 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL8 and TG-310 is 86 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus TG-310 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus TG-310 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to see the gap in sensor sizing merely by researching specifications. The photograph below will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL8 and TG-310.

To sum up, both of those cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PL8 due to its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Olympus E-PL8 will render extra detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will let you crop shots much more aggressively. The more modern E-PL8 is going to have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus TG-310 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus TG-310 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus TG-310 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Portrait photography factors
Olympus TG-310 Portrait photography factors
73
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
33
good resolution (14 megapixels)
offers face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Street photography advice
Olympus TG-310 Street photography advice
84
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
provides touch focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
66
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
lighter than competitors (155 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL8
Sports photography with Olympus TG-310
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
has no phase detect AF
40
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14MP)
offers tracking focus
environment proofing
max frames per second low (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (150 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Travel photography features
Olympus TG-310 Travel photography features
72
provides touch focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
67
lighter than competitors (155g)
environment proofing
good resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
not so great battery life (150 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus TG-310 Landscape photography highlights
80
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
39
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14MP)
environment proofing
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
small screen (2.7")
manual exposure not available
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
not so great battery life (150 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging highlights
Olympus TG-310 Vlogging highlights
36
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external microphone socket
32
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect autofocus
lighter than competitors (155g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Olympus TG-310 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Olympus TG-310
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Olympus TG-310
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL8 Olympus TG-310
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Revealed 2016-09-19 2011-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII TruePic III+
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 25600 1600
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW pictures
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 81 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-102mm (3.6x)
Largest aperture - f/3.9-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 1,037k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.20 m
Flash options no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 357g (0.79 lb) 155g (0.34 lb)
Dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 96 x 63 x 23mm (3.8" x 2.5" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 images 150 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - LI-42B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Cost at release $500 $0