Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic TS5

The following is a in-depth assessment of the Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic TS5, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Waterproof by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the TS5 (16MP) is relatively well matched but the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and TS5 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL8 was manufactured 3 years after the TS5 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic TS5 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a in depth comparison, here is a concise view of how the E-PL8 grades vs the TS5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL8 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PL8 Gallery & Panasonic TS5 Gallery.

In case you're looking to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL8 offers external 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) while the Panasonic TS5 has specifications of 110mm x 67mm x 29mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.1") with a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic TS5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have at that time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the E-PL8 vs the TS5.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL8 and TS5 is 86 and 91 respectively.

Quite often, it is very tough to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by looking at technical specs. The pic here should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL8 and TS5.

As you have seen, both of these cameras have the same megapixel count albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The E-PL8 uses the bigger sensor which should make getting shallow DOF easier. The more recent E-PL8 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.