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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS8

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS8 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Announced May 2013
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PM1
Panasonic ZS8
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 210g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Revealed July 2011
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS7
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS8 Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic ZS8, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the ZS8 (14MP) is fairly close but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and ZS8 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PM2 was released 23 months after the ZS8 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a complete comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the E-PM2 matches up vs the ZS8 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Panasonic ZS8

 E-PM2 ZS8 
RevealedMay 2013July 2011More modern by 23 months
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Olympus E-PM2

 ZS8 E-PM2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic ZS8

 E-PM2 ZS8 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS8 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PM2 enjoys outside dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS8 has dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic ZS8 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are employing at the time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PM2 vs the ZS8.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS8 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM2 and ZS8 is 89 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS8 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizes simply by researching a spec sheet. The pic below may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PM2 and ZS8.

Clearly, the two cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PM2 due to its larger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Olympus E-PM2 will render more detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The fresher E-PM2 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS8 Portrait photography advice
71
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
30
decent MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography details
Panasonic ZS8 Street photography details
79
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
features focus by touch
great ISO range (25,600)
no moving screen
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (210 grams)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Sports photography camera
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
47
great zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
has tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PM2
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS8
66
features focus by touch
MP count good (16 megapixels)
missing Timelapse mode
does not posses selfie friendly display
69
lighter than average (210g)
decent MP (14MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long zoom (384mm)
missing Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PM2
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS8
74
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
missing Timelapse mode
44
reasonably wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging information
Panasonic ZS8 Vlogging information
36
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not posses selfie friendly display
missing external microphone support
30
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (210g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone socket
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic ZS8
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ18
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2013-05-21 2011-07-19
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine FHD
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 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
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)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 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
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data 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 269 gr (0.59 lb) 210 gr (0.46 lb)
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 All around 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 photos 340 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch cost $448 $275