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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS15

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS15 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
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL7
  • Updated by Olympus E-PL9
Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Released June 2012
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS20
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS15 Overview

Following is a comprehensive analysis of the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic ZS15, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the E-PL8 (16MP) and ZS15 (12MP) and the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and ZS15 (1/2.3") use different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL8 was launched 4 years after the ZS15 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple summary of how the E-PL8 matches up against the ZS15 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Panasonic ZS15

 E-PL8 ZS15 
ReleasedSeptember 2016June 2012More modern by 52 months
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k460kClearer screen (+577k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Olympus E-PL8

 ZS15 E-PL8 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic ZS15

 E-PL8 ZS15 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS15 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL8 has physical measurements 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 ZS15 has proportions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic ZS15 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose at the time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-PL8 vs the ZS15.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS15 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL8 and ZS15 is 86 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS15 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizes simply by reading a spec sheet. The picture underneath may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL8 and ZS15.

As you can see, both the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PL8 due to its bigger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh easier and the Olympus E-PL8 will deliver extra detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs much more aggressively. The more modern E-PL8 provides an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Portrait photography details
Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography details
72
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
saves RAW files
21
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Street photography camera
84
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
offers focus via touch
good ISO range (25,600)
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (208g)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL8
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS15
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
lacks phase detect AF
36
amazing zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking autofocus
max fps low (2.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (260 per charge)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Travel photography camera
71
offers focus via touch
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
61
lighter than competitors in class (208 grams)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
long reach (384mm)
does not have Timelapse function
not so great battery pack (260 per charge)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZS15 Landscape photography advice
80
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
37
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
not so great battery pack (260 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging features
Panasonic ZS15 Vlogging features
35
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
missing mic jack
33
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (208g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not offer selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone support
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic ZS15
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL8 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Alternative name - Lumix DMC-TZ25
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2016-09-19 2012-06-29
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias 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 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,037k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 15 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.40 m
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 grams (0.79 pounds) 208 grams (0.46 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 pictures 260 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $500 $279