Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax RZ10

Below is a extended assessment of the Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax RZ10, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the RZ10 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and RZ10 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL8 was unveiled 5 years later than the RZ10 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax RZ10 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a in depth comparison, below is a simple overview of how the E-PL8 grades vs the RZ10 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PL8 and Pentax Optio RZ10. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-PL8 Gallery and Pentax RZ10 Gallery.

When you are intending to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL8 has exterior dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) while the Pentax RZ10 has dimensions of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax RZ10 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the E-PL8 versus the RZ10.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL8 and RZ10 is 86 and 92 respectively.

More often than not, it can be tough to visualise the gap between sensor measurements simply by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL8 and RZ10.

As you can see, each of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL8 having a larger sensor will make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Olympus E-PL8 will give you extra detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The newer E-PL8 will have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.