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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS7

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 front
Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
33
Overall
34

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS7 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
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL7
  • Updated by Olympus E-PL9
Panasonic ZS7
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 218g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Introduced July 2011
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ10
  • New Model is Panasonic ZS8
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS7 Overview

Below, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-PL8 versus Panasonic ZS7, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizeable gap among the resolutions of the E-PL8 (16MP) and ZS7 (12MP) and the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and ZS7 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL8 was announced 5 years later than the ZS7 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS7 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple summation of how the E-PL8 matches up vs the ZS7 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Panasonic ZS7

 E-PL8 ZS7 
IntroducedSeptember 2016July 2011Fresher by 63 months
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k460kCrisper screen (+577k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS7 over the Olympus E-PL8

 ZS7 E-PL8 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic ZS7

 E-PL8 ZS7 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS7 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL8 has got physical dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") with a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS7 has proportions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL8 versus Panasonic ZS7 in the all 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 use during that time. Here is the front view size comparison of the E-PL8 against the ZS7.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS7 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL8 and ZS7 is 86 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS7 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizing just by going through specs. The visual underneath may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL8 and ZS7.

All in all, both the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PL8 having a bigger sensor will make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Olympus E-PL8 will produce greater detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The fresher E-PL8 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Portrait photography information
Panasonic ZS7 Portrait photography information
72
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
21
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Street photography information
Panasonic ZS7 Street photography information
84
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
offers focus by touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (218 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS7 as a Sports photography camera
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect AF
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow frames per second (2.0 fps)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL8
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS7
71
offers focus by touch
MP count good (16 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
63
lighter than average in class (218g)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (300mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic ZS7 Landscape photography highlights
80
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
38
decently wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging details
Panasonic ZS7 Vlogging details
35
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone port
30
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (218 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic jack
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic ZS7
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL8 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ10
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2016-09-19 2011-07-19
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW images
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 81 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 8.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.30 m
Flash options no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 357 grams (0.79 pounds) 218 grams (0.48 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $500 $350