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Olympus E-PL8 vs Samsung NX500

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Samsung NX500 front
Portability
87
Imaging
68
Features
80
Overall
72

Olympus E-PL8 vs Samsung NX500 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Introduced September 2016
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL7
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL9
Samsung NX500
(Full Review)
  • 28MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Raise to 51200)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 287g - 120 x 64 x 43mm
  • Released February 2015
  • Succeeded the Samsung NX300
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Samsung NX500 Overview

Here, we will be looking at the Olympus E-PL8 vs Samsung NX500, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by brands Olympus and Samsung. There is a huge difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL8 (16MP) and NX500 (28MP) and the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and NX500 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL8 was announced 20 months after the NX500 which makes them a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the E-PL8 matches up against the NX500 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Samsung NX500

 E-PL8 NX500 
ReleasedSeptember 2016February 2015More modern by 20 months
Screen resolution1037k1036kSharper screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Samsung NX500 over the Olympus E-PL8

 NX500 E-PL8 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Samsung NX500

 E-PL8 NX500 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PL8 vs Samsung NX500 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL8 has got exterior 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) while the Samsung NX500 has specifications of 120mm x 64mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL8 vs Samsung NX500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at the time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the E-PL8 compared to the NX500.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Samsung NX500 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL8 and NX500 is 86 and 87 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Samsung NX500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Samsung NX500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to see the difference in sensor sizes simply by looking through technical specs. The image here should give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL8 and NX500.

As you can tell, each of these cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PL8 having a smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF trickier and the Samsung NX500 will render greater detail with its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more recent E-PL8 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Samsung NX500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Samsung NX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Samsung NX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Portrait photography advice
Samsung NX500 Portrait photography advice
72
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
80
has manual focus
high sensor resolution (28 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Street photography information
Samsung NX500 Street photography information
84
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
provides touch to focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
81
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Sports photography features
Samsung NX500 Sports photography features
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect autofocus
75
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
high sensor resolution (28 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Travel photography information
Samsung NX500 Travel photography information
71
provides touch to focus
good resolution (16 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
78
supports bluetooth
boasts touch to focus
high sensor resolution (28MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Landscape photography advice
Samsung NX500 Landscape photography advice
80
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
80
has manual focus
change lenses (Samsung NX mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
high sensor resolution (28 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
no low pass filter
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL8
Vlogging with Samsung NX500
35
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone socket
34
screen is touchscreen
offers face detection autofocus
high quality video (4096 x 2160 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
does not have external microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Samsung NX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Samsung NX500
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Samsung NX500
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Samsung
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL8 Samsung NX500
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2016-09-19 2015-02-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII DRIMe 5
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 28 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 6480 x 4320
Maximum native ISO 25600 25600
Maximum boosted ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 81 209
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Samsung NX
Amount of lenses 107 32
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dots 1,036 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames per sec 9.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes no built-in flash Smart flash, auto, auto w/redeye reduction, fill flash, fill w/redeye reduction, 1st-curtain, 2nd-curtain, off
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p), 4096 x 2160 (24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 4096x2160
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG H.265
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 357 gr (0.79 pounds) 287 gr (0.63 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 120 x 64 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 87
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 24.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.9
DXO Low light rating not tested 1379
Other
Battery life 350 photos 370 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 - 30 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $500 $800