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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS45

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
55
Overall
46

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS45 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Announced September 2016
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL7
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PL9
Panasonic ZS45
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 249g - 108 x 60 x 32mm
  • Released January 2015
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Older Model is Panasonic ZS40
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS50
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS45 Overview

Here is a in depth comparison of the Olympus E-PL8 versus Panasonic ZS45, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the ZS45 (16MP) is pretty comparable but the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and ZS45 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL8 was launched 21 months later than the ZS45 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS45 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a in depth comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-PL8 matches up against the ZS45 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Panasonic ZS45

 E-PL8 ZS45 
ReleasedSeptember 2016January 2015Fresher by 21 months
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Olympus E-PL8

 ZS45 E-PL8 
Screen resolution1040k1037kCrisper screen (+3k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic ZS45

 E-PL8 ZS45 
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS45 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL8 has got outside measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS45 has measurements of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL8 versus Panasonic ZS45 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL8 against the ZS45.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS45 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL8 and ZS45 is 86 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS45 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS45 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is tough to envision the difference in sensor sizing purely by going through technical specs. The graphic below may give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL8 and ZS45.

As you can tell, both of the cameras provide the same MP albeit not the same sensor sizing. The E-PL8 uses the bigger sensor which should make obtaining shallow depth of field less difficult. The more modern E-PL8 will have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS45 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL8
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS45
72
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
37
megapixel count decent (16MP)
features face detect focus
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL8
Street photography with Panasonic ZS45
84
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
offers touch focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
69
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (249g)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL8
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS45
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
no phase detect autofocus
55
incredible zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
features tracking focus
better than average battery life (350 per charge)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS45 as a Travel photography camera
71
offers touch focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
71
better than average battery life (350 CIPA)
lighter than others (249 grams)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
long zoom (480mm)
missing Timelapse recording
does not contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL8
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS45
80
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
47
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
better than average battery life (350 per charge)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS45 as a Vlogging camera
35
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
no mic socket
34
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (249g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
missing microphone port
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS45 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic ZS45
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL8 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ57
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2016-09-19 2015-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
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 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing 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 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 81 21
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,037k dot 1,040k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 8.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 6.00 m
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 357 gr (0.79 lb) 249 gr (0.55 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photographs 350 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $500 $300