Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZR1

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.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PL8 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PL8 Gallery and Panasonic ZR1 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.