Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic FH5

Here, we are contrasting the Olympus E-PL8 versus Panasonic FH5, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the FH5 (16MP) is very comparable but the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and FH5 (1/2.3") boast different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL8 was launched 5 years later than the FH5 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH5 being a Compact camera.

Before we go right into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick overview of how the E-PL8 scores vs the FH5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PL8 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL8 Gallery & Panasonic FH5 Gallery.

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL8 comes with exterior measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) while the Panasonic FH5 has specifications of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL8 versus Panasonic FH5 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select at that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL8 versus the FH5.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL8 and FH5 is 86 and 96 respectively.

Normally, it's tough to visualize the difference in sensor measurements merely by seeing technical specs. The visual underneath may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL8 and FH5.

As you have seen, the two cameras come with the identical megapixels but different sensor measurements. The E-PL8 has the larger sensor which should make getting shallower depth of field simpler. The younger E-PL8 provides an edge in sensor technology.