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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FH8

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FH8 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Released February 2018
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL8
Panasonic FH8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-6.4) lens
  • 123g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2012
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FH8 Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Olympus E-PL9 versus Panasonic FH8, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the FH8 (16MP) is very similar but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and FH8 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL9 was manufactured 6 years after the FH8 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH8 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a in depth comparison, here is a short highlight of how the E-PL9 matches up vs the FH8 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Panasonic FH8

 E-PL9 FH8 
RevealedFebruary 2018January 2012Newer by 75 months
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k230kSharper display (+810k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH8 over the Olympus E-PL9

 FH8 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic FH8

 E-PL9 FH8 
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FH8 Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL9 offers exterior dimensions of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") having a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FH8 has dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 123 grams (0.27 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL9 versus Panasonic FH8 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL9 against the FH8.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FH8 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL9 and FH8 is 85 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FH8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FH8 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to see the difference between sensor dimensions just by going over specs. The pic here will help provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL9 and FH8.

All in all, the two cameras come with the identical resolution but not the same sensor dimensions. The E-PL9 has the larger sensor which will make getting shallow depth of field less difficult. The more recent E-PL9 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FH8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FH8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FH8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography info
Panasonic FH8 Portrait photography info
73
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
34
megapixel count good (16MP)
provides face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography details
Panasonic FH8 Street photography details
84
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
boasts focus by touch
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (123 grams)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FH8 as a Sports photography camera
69
silent mode (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect AF
40
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography info
Panasonic FH8 Travel photography info
77
has bluetooth
boasts focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
flash built-in
screen is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than competition in class (123 grams)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL9
Landscape photography with Panasonic FH8
80
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
43
decently wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
manual mode not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging factors
Panasonic FH8 Vlogging factors
35
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic socket
33
decently wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
lighter than competition in class (123 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic jack
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FH8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic FH8
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2018-02-08 2012-01-09
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 121 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.5-6.4
Macro focus range - 4cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,040k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 8.6 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 380 grams (0.84 lbs) 123 grams (0.27 lbs)
Physical dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 350 images 260 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $599 $149