Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic FP5

Following is a in depth assessment of the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic FP5, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the FP5 (14MP) is pretty comparable but the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and FP5 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL8 was unveiled 5 years after the FP5 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FP5 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving into a detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-PL8 grades versus the FP5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN E-PL8 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5. The full galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL8 Gallery and Panasonic FP5 Gallery.

If you're planning to carry around your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL8 comes with outer 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) and the Panasonic FP5 has sizing of 101mm x 59mm x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") having a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic FP5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are working with during that time. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the E-PL8 and the FP5.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL8 and FP5 is 86 and 95 respectively.

Typically, it is very hard to see the difference in sensor sizes only by checking out specs. The image here may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL8 and FP5.

All in all, both the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PL8 using its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-PL8 will provide more detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The newer E-PL8 will have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.