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Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax 645Z 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
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL7
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PL9
Pentax 645Z
(Full Review)
  • 51MP - Medium format Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax 645AF2 Mount
  • 1550g - 156 x 117 x 123mm
  • Launched April 2014
  • Replaced the Pentax 645D
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-PL8 versus Pentax 645Z, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Pro DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a noticeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL8 (16MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and 645Z (Medium format) come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL8 was manufactured 2 years after the 645Z which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a quick overview of how the E-PL8 matches up versus the 645Z when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Pentax 645Z

 E-PL8 645Z 
LaunchedSeptember 2016April 2014More modern by 30 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Olympus E-PL8

 645Z E-PL8 
Screen sizing3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax 645Z

 E-PL8 645Z 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen resolution1037k1037kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL8 has outer measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") with a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) and the Pentax 645Z has specifications of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") with a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL8 versus Pentax 645Z in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-PL8 vs the 645Z.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL8 and 645Z is 86 and 49 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to see the contrast in sensor sizes purely by seeing specs. The pic here might give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL8 and 645Z.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL8 because of its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF tougher and the Pentax 645Z will show extra detail due to its extra 35MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots a little more aggressively. The newer E-PL8 will have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax 645Z as a Portrait photography camera
72
manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
supports RAW formats
88
focusing manually
great resolution (51 megapixels)
large sensor size (Medium format)
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Street photography highlights
Pentax 645Z Street photography highlights
84
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
great ISO range (25,600)
63
screen tilts up and down
large sensor size (Medium format)
saves RAW files
environment proof
very good ISO range (204,800)
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition (1,550g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Sports photography information
Pentax 645Z Sports photography information
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect auto focus
71
great resolution (51 megapixels)
large sensor size (Medium format)
has tracking focus
environment proof
supports phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery (650 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax 645Z as a Travel photography camera
71
comes with focus by touch
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
51
environment proof
great resolution (51MP)
terrible battery (650 CIPA)
more heavy than competition (1,550 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax 645Z Landscape photography highlights
80
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
78
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3.2 inch)
great resolution (51MP)
large sensor size (Medium format)
no low pass filter
very good ISO range (204,800)
saves RAW files
environment proof
has double storage slots
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery (650 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax 645Z as a Vlogging camera
35
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone support
27
has face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with microphone port
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition (1,550g)
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax 645Z
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Pentax 645Z
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL8 Pentax 645Z
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro DSLR
Announced 2016-09-19 2014-04-15
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII PRIME III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Medium format
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 51 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 8256 x 6192
Highest native ISO 25600 204800
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 81 27
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax 645AF2
Available lenses 107 6
Focal length multiplier 2.1 0.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3.2 inch
Resolution of display 1,037k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options no built-in flash Flash On, Flash On+Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync+Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, contrast-control-sync, high-speed sync, wireless sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/125 secs
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) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p,24p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 357g (0.79 lbs) 1550g (3.42 lbs)
Dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 101
DXO Color Depth score not tested 26.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.7
DXO Low light score not tested 4505
Other
Battery life 350 images 650 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Storage slots 1 2
Retail cost $500 $5,024