Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic LZ20

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-PL8 versus Panasonic LZ20, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the LZ20 (16MP) is relatively comparable but the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and LZ20 (1/2.3") provide different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL8 was announced 4 years after the LZ20 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LZ20 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving right into a full comparison, here is a simple summary of how the E-PL8 grades vs the LZ20 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL8 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-PL8 Gallery and Panasonic LZ20 Gallery.

For those who are going to travel with your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL8 provides outside measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") along with a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) while the Panasonic LZ20 has dimensions of 120mm x 76mm x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1") with a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL8 versus Panasonic LZ20 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you choose at that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PL8 against the LZ20.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL8 and LZ20 is 86 and 71 respectively.

Oftentimes, its difficult to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by going through specifications. The pic below should offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL8 and LZ20.

To sum up, both cameras come with the identical resolution albeit different sensor dimensions. The E-PL8 has got the bigger sensor which should make getting shallower depth of field easier. The more recent E-PL8 should have a benefit in sensor tech.