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Olympus E-PL8 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill

Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Sigma DP3 Merrill front
Portability
83
Imaging
56
Features
33
Overall
46

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill 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
  • Revealed September 2016
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL7
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL9
Sigma DP3 Merrill
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 75mm (F2.8) lens
  • 330g - 122 x 67 x 59mm
  • Introduced January 2013
  • Succeeded the Sigma DP2 Merrill
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Overview

Here is a comprehensive overview of the Olympus E-PL8 and Sigma DP3 Merrill, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Sigma. The image resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the DP3 Merrill (15MP) is fairly close but the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and DP3 Merrill (APS-C) posses different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL8 was revealed 3 years later than the DP3 Merrill and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sigma DP3 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a full comparison, here is a quick view of how the E-PL8 grades vs the DP3 Merrill in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Sigma DP3 Merrill

 E-PL8 DP3 Merrill 
IntroducedSeptember 2016January 2013Fresher by 45 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k920kCrisper display (+117k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sigma DP3 Merrill over the Olympus E-PL8

 DP3 Merrill E-PL8 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Sigma DP3 Merrill

 E-PL8 DP3 Merrill 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL8 features physical dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) whilst the Sigma DP3 Merrill has sizing of 122mm x 67mm x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") with a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL8 and Sigma DP3 Merrill in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL8 versus the DP3 Merrill.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL8 and DP3 Merrill is 86 and 83 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizing only by viewing a spec sheet. The visual underneath may offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL8 and DP3 Merrill.

As you can see, the two cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL8 using its smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more challenging and the Olympus E-PL8 will result in greater detail because of its extra 1MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images more aggressively. The more recent E-PL8 provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL8
Portrait photography with Sigma DP3 Merrill
72
focusing manually
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
73
focusing manually
good resolution (15MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Street photography camera
Sigma DP3 Merrill as a Street photography camera
84
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
includes focus via touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
65
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Sports photography factors
Sigma DP3 Merrill Sports photography factors
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect autofocus
44
good resolution (15MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
fixed focal length (75mm)
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Travel photography highlights
Sigma DP3 Merrill Travel photography highlights
71
includes focus via touch
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
54
good resolution (15MP)
missing Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Landscape photography camera
Sigma DP3 Merrill as a Landscape photography camera
80
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
55
focusing manually
pretty good screen size (3")
good resolution (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (75mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no image stabilization
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL8
Vlogging with Sigma DP3 Merrill
35
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
no external mic port
22
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video quality not great (640 x 480 pixels)
missing external mic port
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Sigma DP3 Merrill
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Sigma DP3 Merrill
General Information
Brand Olympus Sigma
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL8 Sigma DP3 Merrill
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Revealed 2016-09-19 2013-01-08
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Dual TRUE II engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS (Foveon X3)
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 24 x 16mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 384.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 15MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4704 x 3136
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 81 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 75mm (1x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,037k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds -
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds -
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options no built-in flash no built-in flash
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB 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) 640 x 480
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 357 gr (0.79 lb) 330 gr (0.73 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 122 x 67 x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 350 pictures -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) -
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card -
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $500 $1,353