Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax Q7

The following is a in depth overview of the Olympus E-PL8 versus Pentax Q7, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by companies Olympus and Pentax. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the E-PL8 (16MP) and Q7 (12MP) and the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and Q7 (1/1.7") offer totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL8 was unveiled 3 years after the Q7 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the E-PL8 matches up against the Q7 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL8 and Pentax Q7. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PL8 Gallery and Pentax Q7 Gallery.

When you are aiming to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL8 comes with outside dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) and the Pentax Q7 has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL8 versus Pentax Q7 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are employing at the time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PL8 against the Q7.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL8 and Q7 is 86 and 92 respectively.

Often, it is very hard to envision the difference in sensor dimensions simply by researching specifications. The picture underneath will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL8 and Q7.

To sum up, the 2 cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL8 using its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Olympus E-PL8 will render extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots more aggressively. The fresher E-PL8 will have an edge in sensor innovation.