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Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax ist DL2

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Pentax ist DL2 front
Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax ist DL2 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
  • Launched September 2016
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL7
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL9
Pentax ist DL2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 565g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Introduced January 2006
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax ist DL2 Overview

On this page, we are looking at the Olympus E-PL8 versus Pentax ist DL2, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL8 (16MP) and ist DL2 (6MP) and the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and ist DL2 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL8 was released 10 years later than the ist DL2 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick summation of how the E-PL8 scores versus the ist DL2 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Pentax ist DL2

 E-PL8 ist DL2 
IntroducedSeptember 2016January 2006Fresher by 130 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k210kSharper display (+827k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DL2 over the Olympus E-PL8

 ist DL2 E-PL8 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax ist DL2

 E-PL8 ist DL2 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax ist DL2 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera frequently, you should consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL8 has outside measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") along with a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) and the Pentax ist DL2 has proportions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") accompanied by a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL8 versus Pentax ist DL2 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using at that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL8 versus the ist DL2.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax ist DL2 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL8 and ist DL2 is 86 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax ist DL2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax ist DL2 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizing merely by reviewing specs. The photograph below may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL8 and ist DL2.

All in all, each of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL8 featuring a tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more difficult and the Olympus E-PL8 will offer you extra detail as a result of its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images more aggressively. The younger E-PL8 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax ist DL2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Portrait photography camera
72
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
50
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no liveview feature
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Street photography features
Pentax ist DL2 Street photography features
84
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
has touch focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
60
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition in class (565g)
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL8
Sports photography with Pentax ist DL2
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
lacks phase detect autofocus
38
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
low frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (6MP)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL8
Travel photography with Pentax ist DL2
71
has touch focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
52
lighter than competition in class (565g)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Landscape photography details
Pentax ist DL2 Landscape photography details
80
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
46
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
small screen (2.5 inch)
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Vlogging camera
35
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone port
22
lighter than competition in class (565 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video res low ( resolution)
doesn't have external mic support
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax ist DL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax ist DL2
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Pentax ist DL2
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus PEN E-PL8 Pentax ist DL2
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2016-09-19 2006-01-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 6MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 3008 x 2008
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW data
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 81 5
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF
Number of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.5 inch
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dots 210 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash -
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 -
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG -
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In No
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 357 gr (0.79 pounds) 565 gr (1.25 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 65
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.1
DXO Low light score not tested 639
Other
Battery life 350 pictures -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/MMC card
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $500 -