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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF8

Portability
89
Imaging
53
Features
63
Overall
57
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 front
Portability
90
Imaging
54
Features
62
Overall
57

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF8 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
  • Introduced May 2013
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PM1
Panasonic GF8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 266g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Launched February 2016
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GF7
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF8 Overview

Below is a extensive comparison of the Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF8, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the GF8 (16MP) is relatively close and both cameras boast the identical sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-PM2 was revealed 3 years earlier than the GF8 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go right into a detailed comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the E-PM2 grades versus the GF8 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Panasonic GF8

 E-PM2 GF8 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF8 over the Olympus E-PM2

 GF8 E-PM2 
LaunchedFebruary 2016May 2013More recent by 33 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k460kCrisper screen (+580k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic GF8

 E-PM2 GF8 
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF8 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera often, you will need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PM2 has got outer measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Panasonic GF8 has sizing of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 266 grams (0.59 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF8 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PM2 vs the GF8.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF8 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM2 and GF8 is 89 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF8 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to imagine the difference in sensor measurements simply by looking through technical specs. The graphic below may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM2 and GF8.

As you can tell, both cameras come with the identical sensor size and the same resolution therefore you should expect comparable quality of photographs although you might want to factor the release date of the cameras into account. The older E-PM2 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PM2
Portrait photography with Panasonic GF8
71
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focusing
supports RAW files
65
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography details
Panasonic GF8 Street photography details
79
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
comes with touch focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
no articulating screen
80
has a tilting screen
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
supports touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PM2
Sports photography with Panasonic GF8
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect AF
49
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/500s)
continuous shooting slow (5.8 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low battery life (230 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography info
Panasonic GF8 Travel photography info
66
comes with touch focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
no Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
66
supports touch focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low battery life (230 per charge)
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic GF8 Landscape photography advice
74
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
no Timelapse function
65
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
low battery life (230 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging information
Panasonic GF8 Vlogging information
36
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no microphone socket
33
touchscreen
provides face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone support
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic GF8
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2013-05-21 2016-02-15
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3448
Max native ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 200
RAW images
Lowest enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/500 seconds
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames/s 5.8 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 5.60 m (at ISO 200)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, flash off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269g (0.59 lbs) 266g (0.59 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3")
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 shots 230 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3-shot/10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots One One
Retail price $448 $549