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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GH5

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH5 front
Portability
59
Imaging
60
Features
89
Overall
71

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GH5 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
  • Announced September 2016
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL7
  • New Model is Olympus E-PL9
Panasonic GH5
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 725g - 139 x 98 x 87mm
  • Released January 2017
  • Superseded the Panasonic GH4
  • Updated by Panasonic GH5 II
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GH5 Overview

Below is a extensive review of the Olympus E-PL8 versus Panasonic GH5, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the GH5 (20MP) is relatively close and both cameras provide the identical sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL8 was introduced 3 months before the GH5 so they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic GH5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting right into a complete comparison, here is a concise view of how the E-PL8 matches up against the GH5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Panasonic GH5

 E-PL8 GH5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH5 over the Olympus E-PL8

 GH5 E-PL8 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1620k1037kSharper screen (+583k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic GH5

 E-PL8 GH5 
ReleasedSeptember 2016January 2017Same generation
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GH5 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL8 features outer dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") with a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GH5 has sizing of 139mm x 98mm x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4") with a weight of 725 grams (1.60 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL8 versus Panasonic GH5 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PL8 compared to the GH5.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GH5 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL8 and GH5 is 86 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GH5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GH5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's tough to imagine the difference in sensor measurements purely by researching a spec sheet. The visual here may offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL8 and GH5.

Clearly, both cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different megapixels. You should count on the Panasonic GH5 to result in more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots way more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GH5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GH5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GH5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Portrait photography features
Panasonic GH5 Portrait photography features
72
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW files
76
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic GH5 as a Street photography camera
84
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
provides focus via touch
good high ISO (25,600)
74
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
comes with touch focus
environment proofing
great high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Sports photography information
Panasonic GH5 Sports photography information
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
68
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent mode (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proofing
terrible battery pack (410 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Travel photography advice
Panasonic GH5 Travel photography advice
71
provides focus via touch
MP count good (16 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
68
environment proofing
has bluetooth
comes with touch focus
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
terrible battery pack (410 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic GH5 Landscape photography advice
80
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
75
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3.2 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
2 card slots
terrible battery pack (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging features
Panasonic GH5 Vlogging features
35
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have external mic jack
75
selfie friendly screen
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection autofocus
high res video (4096 x 2160 pixels)
does have external microphone support
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GH5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic GH5
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL8 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH5
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Announced 2016-09-19 2017-01-04
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 25600 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW files
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 81 225
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inch 3.2 inch
Resolution of screen 1,037k dots 1,620k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,680k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.76x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Max silent shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto, Auto/Redeye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On w/Redeye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync w/Redeye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 4096 x 2160 (24p), 3840 x 2160 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 4096x2160
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1(5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 357 grams (0.79 pounds) 725 grams (1.60 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 139 x 98 x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 77
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 807
Other
Battery life 350 shots 410 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs; 10 secs w/3 shots)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots 1 Two
Price at release $500 $1,298