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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GX7

Portability
86
Imaging
55
Features
76
Overall
63
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7 front
Portability
81
Imaging
53
Features
75
Overall
61

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GX7 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
  • Revealed September 2016
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL7
  • Updated by Olympus E-PL9
Panasonic GX7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 402g - 123 x 71 x 55mm
  • Introduced November 2013
  • Replaced the Panasonic GX1
  • Replacement is Panasonic GX8
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GX7 Overview

On this page, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GX7, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the GX7 (16MP) is pretty close and both cameras boast the same sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL8 was launched 2 years after the GX7 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short view of how the E-PL8 scores versus the GX7 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Panasonic GX7

 E-PL8 GX7 
IntroducedSeptember 2016November 2013More modern by 35 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic GX7 over the Olympus E-PL8

 GX7 E-PL8 
Screen resolution1040k1037kClearer screen (+3k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic GX7

 E-PL8 GX7 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GX7 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL8 comes with external measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") with a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) while the Panasonic GX7 has specifications of 123mm x 71mm x 55mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 2.2") along with a weight of 402 grams (0.89 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GX7 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have during that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL8 compared to the GX7.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GX7 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL8 and GX7 is 86 and 81 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GX7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GX7 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to visualise the gap in sensor sizes simply by researching specs. The picture below might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL8 and GX7.

All in all, both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions and the exact same megapixels so you should expect comparable quality of photos though you should always take the release date of the cameras into account. The younger E-PL8 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GX7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GX7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GX7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic GX7 Portrait photography factors
73
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
71
focusing manually
above average flash sync speed (1/320s)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Street photography factors
Panasonic GX7 Street photography factors
84
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
82
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
boasts touch focus
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Sports photography info
Panasonic GX7 Sports photography info
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect autofocus
59
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
max frames per second low (5.0 frames per second)
terrible battery power (350 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Travel photography info
Panasonic GX7 Travel photography info
72
boasts touch to focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
67
boasts touch focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
terrible battery power (350 CIPA)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic GX7 as a Landscape photography camera
80
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
73
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
terrible battery power (350 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL8
Vlogging with Panasonic GX7
36
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
no external microphone socket
34
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
no mic jack
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic GX7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic GX7
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL8 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Revealed 2016-09-19 2013-11-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3448
Max native ISO 25600 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 125
RAW pictures
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,037k dot 1,040k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,765k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 7.00 m (at ISO 200)
Flash options no built-in flash Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Slow sync w/red-eye reduction, off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/320 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 357 gr (0.79 lb) 402 gr (0.89 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 123 x 71 x 55mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 2.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 70
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.2
DXO Low light score not tested 718
Other
Battery life 350 photos 350 photos
Battery format 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 SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $500 $1,000