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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS50

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 front
Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS50 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
  • Released September 2016
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL7
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL9
Panasonic ZS50
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 243g - 111 x 65 x 34mm
  • Announced January 2015
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ70
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS45
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS60
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS50 Overview

Below, we are analyzing the Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS50, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a large gap between the image resolutions of the E-PL8 (16MP) and ZS50 (12MP) and the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and ZS50 (1/2.3") come with different sensor size.

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The E-PL8 was announced 21 months after the ZS50 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS50 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a in depth comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the E-PL8 matches up versus the ZS50 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Panasonic ZS50

 E-PL8 ZS50 
AnnouncedSeptember 2016January 2015More modern by 21 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS50 over the Olympus E-PL8

 ZS50 E-PL8 
Display resolution1040k1037kSharper display (+3k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic ZS50

 E-PL8 ZS50 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS50 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera often, you have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL8 provides outer 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) and the Panasonic ZS50 has proportions of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS50 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have at the time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PL8 against the ZS50.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS50 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL8 and ZS50 is 86 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS50 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizes only by going over specifications. The pic here may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL8 and ZS50.

To sum up, both the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL8 using its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Olympus E-PL8 will offer extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop photos much more aggressively. The more recent E-PL8 provides an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS50 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS50 Portrait photography advice
72
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
42
you can focus manually
has face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL8
Street photography with Panasonic ZS50
84
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
supports focus via touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
68
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (243 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL8
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS50
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
no phase detect autofocus
43
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking autofocus
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Travel photography features
Panasonic ZS50 Travel photography features
71
supports focus via touch
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
66
lighter than competitors in class (243 grams)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL8
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS50
80
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
51
you can focus manually
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging information
Panasonic ZS50 Vlogging information
35
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
missing microphone port
34
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (243g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not offer selfie friendly display
no external mic socket
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic ZS50
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL8 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ70
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2016-09-19 2015-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
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 80
RAW data
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.40 m
Flash options no built-in flash Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
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) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 357g (0.79 lbs) 243g (0.54 lbs)
Dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 111 x 65 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 44
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 138
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 300 photographs
Battery type 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 One One
Price at release $500 $350