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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic FZ70

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70 front
Portability
63
Imaging
40
Features
53
Overall
45

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic FZ70 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Introduced September 2016
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL7
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL9
Panasonic FZ70
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 20-1200mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 606g - 130 x 97 x 118mm
  • Revealed July 2013
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic FZ70 Overview

Here, we are matching up the Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic FZ70, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the FZ70 (16MP) is very close but the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and FZ70 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL8 was brought out 3 years later than the FZ70 and that is a fairly significant gap 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 FZ70 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving into a full comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-PL8 grades vs the FZ70 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Panasonic FZ70

 E-PL8 FZ70 
RevealedSeptember 2016July 2013Fresher by 39 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k460kCrisper display (+577k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ70 over the Olympus E-PL8

 FZ70 E-PL8 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic FZ70

 E-PL8 FZ70 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic FZ70 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL8 features external dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) and the Panasonic FZ70 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 118mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 4.6") along with a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic FZ70 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the E-PL8 against the FZ70.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic FZ70 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL8 and FZ70 is 86 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic FZ70 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic FZ70 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's hard to see the difference in sensor sizing simply by viewing specs. The photograph here should give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL8 and FZ70.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras come with the identical megapixel count but not the same sensor sizing. The E-PL8 has the larger sensor which should make achieving shallow depth of field simpler. The more recent E-PL8 is going to have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic FZ70 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic FZ70 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic FZ70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Portrait photography info
Panasonic FZ70 Portrait photography info
72
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
saves RAW formats
56
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
offers face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL8
Street photography with Panasonic FZ70
84
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
offers focus via touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
49
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
heavier than average in class (606 grams)
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FZ70 as a Sports photography camera
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect auto focus
55
excellent zoom range (20-1200mm 60.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (400 per charge)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FZ70 as a Travel photography camera
71
offers focus via touch
megapixel count decent (16MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
55
better than average battery pack (400 shots)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (20mm)
great reach (1200mm)
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than average in class (606 grams)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FZ70 as a Landscape photography camera
80
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
54
you can focus manually
rather wide (20mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (400 per charge)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
small sensor (1/2.3")
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL8
Vlogging with Panasonic FZ70
35
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone port
26
rather wide (20mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
missing external mic socket
heavier than average in class (606 grams)
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic FZ70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic FZ70
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL8 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2016-09-19 2013-07-18
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 20-1200mm (60.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,037k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT Screen LCD Display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 202k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 8.0fps 9.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 13.50 m
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (50i/60i, 25p/30p), 1280 x 720p (50p/60p or 25p/30p), 640 x 480 (25p/30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 357 grams (0.79 lb) 606 grams (1.34 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 130 x 97 x 118mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 4.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 41
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 19.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.8
DXO Low light rating not tested 171
Other
Battery life 350 shots 400 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $500 $300