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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic LZ20

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 front
Portability
71
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic LZ20 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
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL7
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL9
Panasonic LZ20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-525mm (F3.1-5.8) lens
  • 499g - 120 x 76 x 80mm
  • Revealed July 2012
  • Successor is Panasonic LZ30
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic LZ20 Overview

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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Panasonic LZ20

 E-PL8 LZ20 
RevealedSeptember 2016July 2012Newer by 51 months
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k460kClearer screen (+577k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ20 over the Olympus E-PL8

 LZ20 E-PL8 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic LZ20

 E-PL8 LZ20 
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic LZ20 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic LZ20 size comparison

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

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic LZ20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic LZ20 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic LZ20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic LZ20 Portrait photography highlights
72
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
36
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
supports face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Street photography advice
Panasonic LZ20 Street photography advice
84
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
features focus by touch
great ISO range (25,600)
45
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
more heavy than average (499g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic LZ20 Sports photography highlights
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect autofocus
47
amazing zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
supports tracking focus
great battery (380 CIPA)
slow fps (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL8
Travel photography with Panasonic LZ20
71
features focus by touch
good MP (16 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
58
great battery (380 shots)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
great zoom (525mm)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than average (499 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL8
Landscape photography with Panasonic LZ20
80
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
45
really wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
great battery (380 shots)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging features
Panasonic LZ20 Vlogging features
35
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
no external mic support
25
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone port
more heavy than average (499g)
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic LZ20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic LZ20
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL8 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2016-09-19 2012-07-18
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
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
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 1600
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 81 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-525mm (21.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.1-5.8
Macro focus distance - 2cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 6.80 m
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
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) 1280 x 720p ( 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 357 grams (0.79 lb) 499 grams (1.10 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 120 x 76 x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 380 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $500 $250