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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS8

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Launched November 2011
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PM2
Panasonic ZS8
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 210g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Launched July 2011
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS7
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic ZS8, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the ZS8 (14MP) is pretty close but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and ZS8 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizing.

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The E-PM1 was revealed 5 months after the ZS8 and they are of a similar age. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a full comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the E-PM1 matches up vs the ZS8 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Panasonic ZS8

 E-PM1 ZS8 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Olympus E-PM1

 ZS8 E-PM1 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic ZS8

 E-PM1 ZS8 
LaunchedNovember 2011July 2011Same age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PM1 has outside measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS8 has dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic ZS8 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the E-PM1 vs the ZS8.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS8 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-PM1 and ZS8 is 89 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizes simply by researching specs. The pic underneath might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM1 and ZS8.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PM1 with its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Panasonic ZS8 will result in greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots far more aggressively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
30
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography information
Panasonic ZS8 Street photography information
75
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (210g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography details
Panasonic ZS8 Sports photography details
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow fps (6.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have phase detect AF
47
great zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (2.0 fps)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography information
Panasonic ZS8 Travel photography information
45
does not have Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
69
lighter than others in class (210g)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
great zoom (384mm)
no Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Landscape photography camera
65
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse mode
44
pretty wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Vlogging camera
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have external mic port
30
pretty wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (210 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic jack
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic ZS8
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ18
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-11-23 2011-07-19
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI Venus Engine FHD
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 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 6.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 265 gr (0.58 pounds) 210 gr (0.46 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 shots 340 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Price at release $499 $275