Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax MX-1

Following is a extensive overview of the Olympus E-PL8 versus Pentax MX-1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the E-PL8 (16MP) and MX-1 (12MP) and the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and MX-1 (1/1.7") boast different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL8 was introduced 3 years after the MX-1 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a in depth comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the E-PL8 grades against the MX-1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN E-PL8 & Pentax MX-1. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PL8 Gallery & Pentax MX-1 Gallery.

If you're intending to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL8 features physical 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) whilst the Pentax MX-1 has measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") having a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL8 versus Pentax MX-1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PL8 compared to the MX-1.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL8 and MX-1 is 86 and 84 respectively.

Often, it is very hard to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes just by reviewing a spec sheet. The image here might give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL8 and MX-1.

Clearly, each of these cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PL8 using its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Olympus E-PL8 will offer you extra detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more modern E-PL8 should have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.