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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS8

Portability
86
Imaging
55
Features
76
Overall
63
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS8 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
  • Announced September 2016
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL7
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL9
Panasonic ZS8
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 210g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Launched July 2011
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Previous Model is Panasonic ZS7
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS8 Overview

Below, we are reviewing the Olympus E-PL8 versus Panasonic ZS8, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the ZS8 (14MP) is very similar but the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and ZS8 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor size.

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The E-PL8 was launched 5 years after the ZS8 which is quite a serious gap as far as 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 ZS8 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a thorough comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the E-PL8 matches up versus the ZS8 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Panasonic ZS8

 E-PL8 ZS8 
LaunchedSeptember 2016July 2011Newer by 63 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k230kClearer display (+807k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Olympus E-PL8

 ZS8 E-PL8 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic ZS8

 E-PL8 ZS8 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS8 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL8 comes with outer dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS8 has dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL8 versus Panasonic ZS8 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you choose at the time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL8 versus the ZS8.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS8 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL8 and ZS8 is 86 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS8 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to picture the gap between sensor dimensions purely by reading specifications. The image here may give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL8 and ZS8.

Plainly, each of these cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL8 due to its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Olympus E-PL8 will offer more detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images much more aggressively. The fresher E-PL8 provides an edge in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Portrait photography info
Panasonic ZS8 Portrait photography info
73
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
exports RAW files
30
MP count good (14MP)
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Street photography factors
Panasonic ZS8 Street photography factors
84
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
features focus via touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (210 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Sports photography camera
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
has no phase detect auto focus
47
amazing zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Travel photography features
Panasonic ZS8 Travel photography features
72
features focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than average in class (210 grams)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
long reach (384mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
does not offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Landscape photography information
Panasonic ZS8 Landscape photography information
80
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
44
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Vlogging camera
36
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone socket
30
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (210 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not offer selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic support
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Panasonic ZS8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Panasonic ZS8
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL8 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ18
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2016-09-19 2011-07-19
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 81 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,037k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 8.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.00 m
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 357g (0.79 lbs) 210g (0.46 lbs)
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 photographs 340 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $500 $275