Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic FZ35

Here, we will be comparing the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic FZ35, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a significant difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL8 (16MP) and FZ35 (12MP) and the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and FZ35 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL8 was unveiled 6 years later than the FZ35 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ35 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a short highlight of how the E-PL8 matches up against the FZ35 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL8 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PL8 Gallery and Panasonic FZ35 Gallery.

For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera often, you will have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL8 provides outer measurements 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 Panasonic FZ35 has dimensions of 118mm x 76mm x 89mm (4.6" x 3.0" x 3.5") along with a weight of 397 grams (0.88 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic FZ35 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have at that moment. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the E-PL8 vs the FZ35.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL8 and FZ35 is 86 and 72 respectively.

Generally, its hard to visualise the gap in sensor sizing purely by viewing technical specs. The graphic underneath will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL8 and FZ35.

As you can tell, the two cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL8 having a bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Olympus E-PL8 will render greater detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The newer E-PL8 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.