Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony W690

Lets look closer at the Olympus E-PL8 versus Sony W690, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the W690 (16MP) is fairly similar but the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and W690 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL8 was brought out 4 years after the W690 which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W690 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a detailed comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-PL8 scores versus the W690 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PL8 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PL8 Gallery & Sony W690 Gallery.

For those who are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL8 enjoys outside measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) and the Sony W690 has sizing of 94mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL8 versus Sony W690 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL8 vs the W690.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL8 and W690 is 86 and 95 respectively.

Quite often, it's hard to envision the gap between sensor sizes merely by going over a spec sheet. The image here should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL8 and W690.

Clearly, both the cameras feature the identical megapixel count but not the same sensor sizes. The E-PL8 offers the larger sensor which is going to make obtaining bokeh easier. The fresher E-PL8 will have an edge in sensor tech.