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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic SZ1

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic SZ1 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
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PL9
Panasonic SZ1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 131g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Introduced January 2012
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic SZ1 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic SZ1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the SZ1 (16MP) is fairly well matched but the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and SZ1 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL8 was unveiled 4 years after the SZ1 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the E-PL8 grades against the SZ1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Panasonic SZ1

 E-PL8 SZ1 
IntroducedSeptember 2016January 2012More modern by 58 months
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Olympus E-PL8

 SZ1 E-PL8 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic SZ1

 E-PL8 SZ1 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic SZ1 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL8 comes with outside measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ1 has specifications of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic SZ1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PL8 versus the SZ1.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic SZ1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL8 and SZ1 is 86 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic SZ1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic SZ1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizes simply by reading through a spec sheet. The pic underneath will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL8 and SZ1.

As you can see, each of these cameras have got the exact same megapixel count but not the same sensor sizes. The E-PL8 contains the larger sensor which should make achieving shallow DOF less difficult. The younger E-PL8 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic SZ1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL8
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ1
72
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
34
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic SZ1 as a Street photography camera
84
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
provides focus via touch
great high ISO (25,600)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (131 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Sports photography details
Panasonic SZ1 Sports photography details
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
lack of phase detect autofocus
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic SZ1 as a Travel photography camera
71
provides focus via touch
good resolution (16MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
70
lighter than average in class (131 grams)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic SZ1 as a Landscape photography camera
80
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
43
reasonably wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging factors
Panasonic SZ1 Vlogging factors
35
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
does not have microphone support
32
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
lighter than average in class (131g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic jack
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic SZ1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic SZ1
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL8 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2016-09-19 2012-01-09
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip 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 area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus range - 4cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,037k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 8.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.60 m
Flash options no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 357 gr (0.79 lbs) 131 gr (0.29 lbs)
Dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 250 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $500 $179