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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GF2

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 front
Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
50
Overall
48

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GF2 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Released September 2016
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL7
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL9
Panasonic GF2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 310g - 113 x 68 x 33mm
  • Released February 2011
  • Replaced the Panasonic GF1
  • Updated by Panasonic GF3
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GF2 Overview

Here, we will be looking at the Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GF2, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a considerable gap among the image resolutions of the E-PL8 (16MP) and GF2 (12MP) but both cameras have the identical sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL8 was announced 5 years later than the GF2 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short summary of how the E-PL8 matches up vs the GF2 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Panasonic GF2

 E-PL8 GF2 
ReleasedSeptember 2016February 2011More recent by 68 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k460kClearer screen (+577k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF2 over the Olympus E-PL8

 GF2 E-PL8 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic GF2

 E-PL8 GF2 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GF2 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL8 provides outer measurements 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 GF2 has measurements of 113mm x 68mm x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") along with a weight of 310 grams (0.68 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GF2 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose at the time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL8 and the GF2.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GF2 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL8 and GF2 is 86 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GF2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GF2 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its difficult to picture the difference in sensor measurements purely by checking out specifications. The graphic below should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL8 and GF2.

To sum up, both the cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Olympus E-PL8 to produce greater detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The younger E-PL8 provides a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GF2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GF2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GF2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic GF2 Portrait photography factors
72
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
saves RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL8
Street photography with Panasonic GF2
84
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
provides focus by touch
good ISO range (25,600)
65
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Sports photography factors
Panasonic GF2 Sports photography factors
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
38
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (12 megapixels)
bad battery (300 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL8
Travel photography with Panasonic GF2
71
provides focus by touch
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
52
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse mode
bad battery (300 shots)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic GF2 as a Landscape photography camera
80
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
55
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (12MP)
bad battery (300 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL8
Vlogging with Panasonic GF2
35
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone jack
32
has touchscreen
comes with face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
does not have external microphone port
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GF2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic GF2
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL8 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2016-09-19 2011-02-24
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,037k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 8.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 357g (0.79 lb) 310g (0.68 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 113 x 68 x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 54
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.2
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 506
Other
Battery life 350 photos 300 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $500 $330