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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GM1

Portability
86
Imaging
55
Features
76
Overall
63
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
53
Features
60
Overall
55

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GM1 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
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL7
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL9
Panasonic GM1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 204g - 99 x 55 x 30mm
  • Announced December 2013
  • Updated by Panasonic GM5
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GM1 Overview

Here, we are evaluating the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic GM1, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the GM1 (16MP) is very well matched and both cameras posses the identical sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL8 was announced 2 years after the GM1 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going right into a more detailed comparison, here is a short overview of how the E-PL8 grades against the GM1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Panasonic GM1

 E-PL8 GM1 
AnnouncedSeptember 2016December 2013Newer by 34 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k1036kClearer display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic GM1 over the Olympus E-PL8

 GM1 E-PL8 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic GM1

 E-PL8 GM1 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GM1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL8 provides outside 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 GM1 has proportions of 99mm x 55mm x 30mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") and a weight of 204 grams (0.45 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic GM1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have at that moment. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the E-PL8 compared to the GM1.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GM1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL8 and GM1 is 86 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GM1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GM1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to see the difference between sensor dimensions merely by reading through specs. The pic here will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL8 and GM1.

As you can plainly see, both cameras come with the identical sensor size and the same megapixels so you should expect similar quality of photographs but you will want to factor the release date of the products into consideration. The younger E-PL8 will have an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GM1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GM1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GM1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Portrait photography info
Panasonic GM1 Portrait photography info
73
focusing manually
decent MP (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
exports RAW formats
65
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
saves RAW files
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL8
Street photography with Panasonic GM1
84
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
supports focus by touch
above average high ISO (25,600)
77
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
has focus by touch
lighter than average in class (204 grams)
great ISO range (25,600)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic GM1 Sports photography highlights
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect auto focus
48
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
low maximum shutter speed (1/500s)
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery (230 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL8
Travel photography with Panasonic GM1
72
supports focus by touch
decent MP (16 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
74
lighter than average in class (204 grams)
has focus by touch
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
terrible battery (230 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic GM1 Landscape photography factors
80
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
69
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery (230 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging features
Panasonic GM1 Vlogging features
36
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
no external mic socket
35
touch screen
supports face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (204g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
lack of external microphone support
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GM1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic GM1
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL8 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2016-09-19 2013-12-19
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII -
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 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3448
Maximum native ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 200
RAW files
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,037k dots 1,036k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/500 seconds
Maximum silent shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.00 m
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/50 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 24p), 1280 x 720p (60p, 50p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 357 grams (0.79 pounds) 204 grams (0.45 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 99 x 55 x 30mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.3
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.7
DXO Low light score not tested 660
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 230 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $500 $750