Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic LX5

Below is a extended analysis of the Olympus E-PL8 versus Panasonic LX5, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a big difference between the image resolutions of the E-PL8 (16MP) and LX5 (10MP) and the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and LX5 (1/1.63") have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL8 was manufactured 4 years later than the LX5 and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LX5 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief summation of how the E-PL8 grades vs the LX5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PL8 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL8 Gallery and Panasonic LX5 Gallery.

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL8 has exterior 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 LX5 has specifications of 110mm x 65mm x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL8 versus Panasonic LX5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you choose during that time. The following is a front view size comparison of the E-PL8 compared to the LX5.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL8 and LX5 is 86 and 88 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements just by reviewing technical specs. The graphic underneath might provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL8 and LX5.

As you can tell, both of these cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL8 due to its larger sensor will make getting bokeh easier and the Olympus E-PL8 will offer you more detail due to its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The newer E-PL8 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.