Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic FZ80

Below, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-PL8 versus Panasonic FZ80, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the FZ80 (18MP) is relatively similar but the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and FZ80 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL8 was introduced 3 months before the FZ80 and they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ80 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a simple summary of how the E-PL8 grades versus the FZ80 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL8 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-PL8 Gallery and Panasonic FZ80 Gallery.

If you're aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL8 has physical 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) whilst the Panasonic FZ80 has measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 119mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.7") along with a weight of 616 grams (1.36 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL8 versus Panasonic FZ80 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you choose at the time. The following is the front view size comparison of the E-PL8 versus the FZ80.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL8 and FZ80 is 86 and 63 respectively.

Generally, its tough to see the difference between sensor dimensions purely by going over a spec sheet. The pic below might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL8 and FZ80.

As you can see, each of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL8 with its bigger sensor will make achieving bokeh simpler and the Panasonic FZ80 will offer extra detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively.