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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZR1

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZR1 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
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL7
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL9
Panasonic ZR1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Introduced July 2009
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-ZX1
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZR1 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Olympus E-PL8 versus Panasonic ZR1, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL8 (16MP) and ZR1 (12MP) and the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and ZR1 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL8 was introduced 7 years later than the ZR1 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZR1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a in depth comparison, below is a quick view of how the E-PL8 scores against the ZR1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Panasonic ZR1

 E-PL8 ZR1 
IntroducedSeptember 2016July 2009More recent by 88 months
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR1 over the Olympus E-PL8

 ZR1 E-PL8 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic ZR1

 E-PL8 ZR1 
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZR1 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL8 enjoys 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) while the Panasonic ZR1 has measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") and a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL8 versus Panasonic ZR1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using during that time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PL8 and the ZR1.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZR1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL8 and ZR1 is 86 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZR1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZR1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to visualise the difference between sensor measurements only by reviewing a spec sheet. The visual here will give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL8 and ZR1.

Clearly, each of these cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PL8 using its larger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-PL8 will deliver greater detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images far more aggressively. The more modern E-PL8 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZR1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic ZR1 Portrait photography factors
72
manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
exports RAW files
21
no manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Street photography information
Panasonic ZR1 Street photography information
84
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
boasts touch focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic ZR1 Sports photography highlights
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
has no phase detect auto focus
25
image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL8
Travel photography with Panasonic ZR1
71
boasts touch focus
good MP (16MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
57
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
MP count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZR1 as a Landscape photography camera
80
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
32
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging details
Panasonic ZR1 Vlogging details
35
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
does not have microphone socket
28
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone support
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZR1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic ZR1
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL8 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-ZX1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2016-09-19 2009-07-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII Venus Engine V
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW format
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 81 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-200mm (8.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.10 m
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB 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 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 357 gr (0.79 lb) 158 gr (0.35 lb)
Dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 350 shots -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $500 $280