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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH8

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH8 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Launched May 2013
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PM1
Panasonic FH8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-6.4) lens
  • 123g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2012
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH8 Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH8, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the FH8 (16MP) is relatively close but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and FH8 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PM2 was revealed 17 months after the FH8 which makes them a generation away from each other. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH8 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a full comparison, here is a short view of how the E-PM2 scores versus the FH8 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Panasonic FH8

 E-PM2 FH8 
LaunchedMay 2013January 2012More modern by 17 months
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH8 over the Olympus E-PM2

 FH8 E-PM2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic FH8

 E-PM2 FH8 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH8 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera often, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PM2 has got outside dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Panasonic FH8 has measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 123 grams (0.27 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH8 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PM2 vs the FH8.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH8 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-PM2 and FH8 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH8 Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to envision the contrast in sensor sizes just by researching a spec sheet. The picture underneath might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PM2 and FH8.

As you can see, both the cameras have the same MP albeit not the same sensor sizes. The E-PM2 has the bigger sensor which will make achieving shallower depth of field simpler. The fresher E-PM2 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FH8 as a Portrait photography camera
71
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
34
resolution is good (16MP)
supports face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PM2
Street photography with Panasonic FH8
79
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
provides touch focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
no moving screen
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (123g)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FH8 as a Sports photography camera
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
no phase detect autofocus
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
supports tracking focus
max fps very slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography features
Panasonic FH8 Travel photography features
66
provides touch focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
no Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than competitors (123g)
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic FH8 Landscape photography factors
74
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
no Time Lapse mode
43
decently wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
manual mode not available
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging info
Panasonic FH8 Vlogging info
36
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
no external mic socket
33
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
lighter than competitors (123g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone socket
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic FH8
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2013-05-21 2012-01-09
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.5-6.4
Macro focus range - 4cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 8s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 8.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269g (0.59 pounds) 123g (0.27 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 932 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 images 260 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $448 $149