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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic S2

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
29
Overall
33

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic S2 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Introduced September 2016
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL7
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL9
Panasonic S2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 112g - 98 x 57 x 21mm
  • Introduced January 2012
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic S2 Overview

Let's look closer at the Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic S2, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the S2 (14MP) is very comparable but the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and S2 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL8 was launched 4 years after the S2 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S2 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a full comparison, below is a short view of how the E-PL8 matches up vs the S2 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Panasonic S2

 E-PL8 S2 
IntroducedSeptember 2016January 2012Newer by 58 months
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic S2 over the Olympus E-PL8

 S2 E-PL8 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic S2

 E-PL8 S2 
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic S2 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to travel with your camera often, you will have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL8 comes with exterior 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 S2 has specifications of 98mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 112 grams (0.25 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic S2 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the E-PL8 vs the S2.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic S2 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL8 and S2 is 86 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic S2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic S2 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions just by going through technical specs. The picture below will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL8 and S2.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL8 because of its larger sensor will make shooting bokeh simpler and the Olympus E-PL8 will produce more detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The newer E-PL8 is going to have an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic S2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic S2 Portrait photography factors
72
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
exports RAW files
33
good resolution (14 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Street photography details
Panasonic S2 Street photography details
84
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
comes with touch to focus
good ISO range (25,600)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (112g)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Sports photography info
Panasonic S2 Sports photography info
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
lacks phase detect auto focus
39
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14MP)
better than average battery power (280 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic S2 Travel photography highlights
71
comes with touch to focus
MP count good (16 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
70
better than average battery power (280 shots)
lighter than competition in class (112g)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Landscape photography information
Panasonic S2 Landscape photography information
80
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
41
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
better than average battery power (280 per charge)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging features
Panasonic S2 Vlogging features
35
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have microphone jack
32
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
lighter than competition in class (112g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic support
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic S2
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL8 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2016-09-19 2012-01-09
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 8s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.30 m
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 357 gr (0.79 pounds) 112 gr (0.25 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 98 x 57 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
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 shots 280 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $500 $109