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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic SZ5

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic SZ5 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
  • Revealed September 2016
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL7
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL9
Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Revealed July 2012
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic SZ5 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-PL8 versus Panasonic SZ5, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the SZ5 (14MP) is pretty well matched but the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and SZ5 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL8 was revealed 4 years after the SZ5 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ5 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a complete comparison, here is a simple summation of how the E-PL8 grades against the SZ5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Panasonic SZ5

 E-PL8 SZ5 
RevealedSeptember 2016July 2012More modern by 51 months
Manual focus Very exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k230kCrisper screen (+807k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Olympus E-PL8

 SZ5 E-PL8 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic SZ5

 E-PL8 SZ5 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic SZ5 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera, you need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL8 provides outer measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ5 has proportions of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL8 versus Panasonic SZ5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at that time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the E-PL8 against the SZ5.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic SZ5 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL8 and SZ5 is 86 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic SZ5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to visualise the gap between sensor sizes merely by reading through specifications. The pic here will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL8 and SZ5.

Plainly, both the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PL8 having a bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Olympus E-PL8 will give you extra detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The younger E-PL8 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic SZ5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL8
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ5
72
has manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
exports RAW files
34
good resolution (14 megapixels)
features face detect focus
no manual focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Street photography advice
Panasonic SZ5 Street photography advice
84
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
supports touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (136g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL8
Sports photography with Panasonic SZ5
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
lack of phase detect AF
40
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14MP)
features tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Travel photography features
Panasonic SZ5 Travel photography features
71
supports touch to focus
MP count decent (16MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
70
lighter than competitors in class (136 grams)
good resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic SZ5 Landscape photography advice
80
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
42
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
no manual exposure
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging info
Panasonic SZ5 Vlogging info
35
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone support
32
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
lighter than competitors in class (136g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic socket
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic SZ5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic SZ5
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL8 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2016-09-19 2012-07-18
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 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 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 25600 1600
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
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 - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,037k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT Screen 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
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.60 m
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
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 lbs) 136 gr (0.30 lbs)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" 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 pictures 250 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $500 $195