Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GF5

Following is a thorough comparison of the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic GF5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference among the resolutions of the E-PL8 (16MP) and GF5 (12MP) but both cameras have the same sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL8 was launched 4 years after the GF5 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving into a in depth comparison, here is a concise summary of how the E-PL8 scores against the GF5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PL8 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL8 Gallery & Panasonic GF5 Gallery.

In case you're going to carry around your camera frequently, you need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL8 offers external dimensions 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 GF5 has proportions of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic GF5 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you use at that moment. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the E-PL8 vs the GF5.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL8 and GF5 is 86 and 89 respectively.

In many cases, it's hard to envision the contrast in sensor sizes simply by seeing a spec sheet. The image here should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL8 and GF5.

Clearly, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Olympus E-PL8 to produce extra detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The fresher E-PL8 is going to have an advantage in sensor tech.