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Olympus E-PL8

 
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62

Olympus E-PL8 summary

Olympus E-PL8 is Olympus's Entry-Level Mirrorless camera first introduced on September of 2016. The camera houses a 16MP, CMOS Four Thirds size sensor with a full resolution of 4608 x 3456.

Olympus released this camera as a way to replace the older Olympus E-PL7 (Read Full Comparison) and afterwards launched the newer Olympus E-PL9 (Read Full Comparison) to update this model.

The E-PL8 stands at #45 out of 117 in Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras and overall #271 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our database. Please check out our Smart camera search to get camera rankings based on your customized factors.

Photography Glossary

Here is a graph of various factors used in the rating system.

Olympus E-PL8 family

The Olympus E-PL8 comes with a history of related digital cameras. Down below, you can look at all past and newer models alongside important specifications.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Olympus-PEN-E-P7 front thumbnailOlympus E-P7
E-PL8 vs E-P7
20MPFour Thirds8.7 fps2021
Olympus-OM-D-E-M10-IV front thumbnailOlympus E-M10 IV
E-PL8 vs E-M10 IV
20MPFour Thirds8.7 fps2020
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Olympus-PEN-E-PL9 front thumbnailOlympus E-PL9
E-PL8 vs E-PL9
16MPFour Thirds8.6 fps2018
Olympus-OM-D-E-M10-Mark-III front thumbnailOlympus E-M10 III
E-PL8 vs E-M10 III
16MPFour Thirds8.6 fps2017
Olympus-PEN-E-PL8 front thumbnailOlympus E-PL816MPFour Thirds8.0 fps2016
Olympus-OM-D-E-M10-II front thumbnailOlympus E-M10 II
E-PL8 vs E-M10 II
16MPFour Thirds8.0 fps2015
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Olympus-PEN-E-PL7 front thumbnailOlympus E-PL7
E-PL8 vs E-PL7
16MPFour Thirds8.0 fps2014
Olympus-PEN-E-PL6 front thumbnailOlympus E-PL6
E-PL8 vs E-PL6
16MPFour Thirds8.0 fps2014
Olympus-OM-D-E-M10 front thumbnailOlympus E-M10
E-PL8 vs E-M10
16MPFour Thirds8.0 fps2014
Olympus-PEN-E-P5 front thumbnailOlympus E-P5
E-PL8 vs E-P5
16MPFour Thirds9.0 fps2013
Olympus-PEN-E-PM2 front thumbnailOlympus E-PM2
E-PL8 vs E-PM2
16MPFour Thirds8.0 fps2013
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Olympus-PEN-E-PL5 front thumbnailOlympus E-PL5
E-PL8 vs E-PL5
16MPFour Thirds8.0 fps2012
Olympus-PEN-E-PM1 front thumbnailOlympus E-PM1
E-PL8 vs E-PM1
12MPFour Thirds6.0 fps2011
Olympus-PEN-E-PL3 front thumbnailOlympus E-PL3
E-PL8 vs E-PL3
12MPFour Thirds6.0 fps2011
Olympus-PEN-E-P3 front thumbnailOlympus E-P3
E-PL8 vs E-P3
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2011
Olympus-PEN-E-PL2 front thumbnailOlympus E-PL2
E-PL8 vs E-PL2
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2011
Olympus-PEN-E-PL1s front thumbnailOlympus E-PL1s
E-PL8 vs E-PL1s
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2010
Olympus-PEN-E-PL1 front thumbnailOlympus E-PL1
E-PL8 vs E-PL1
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2010
Olympus-PEN-E-P2 front thumbnailOlympus E-P2
E-PL8 vs E-P2
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2010
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Olympus-PEN-E-P1 front thumbnailOlympus E-P1
E-PL8 vs E-P1
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2009

Olympus E-PL8 Pros and Cons

Here is a list of advantages and disadvantages of the Olympus E-PL8 based on features which are normally regarded as essential in a camera.

comes with HDMI port
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
good resolution screen (1,037 k dot)
has a tilting screen
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
provides face detection focusing
provides tracking autofocus
screen is a good size (3 inch)
supports touch focus
touchscreen enabled
very good high ISO (25,600)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic port
doesn't have headphone port
lack of phase detect AF
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Olympus E-PL8 Sensor features

The Olympus E-PL8 is powered by the TruePic VII processor. The measurement of the sensor on the Olympus E-PL8 is 17.3mm x 13mm (Four Thirds). The 225 mm² sensor has the capability to capture 4608 x 3456 pixels using aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera includes Image Stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis). Optical stabilization is more desirable than digital stabilization since the latter can easily produce cropping.

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The CMOS sensor boasts 16MP and delivers a native ISO range of 200 to 25600. The ISO can also be widened electronically to a low of 100. RAW format is supported which means that you have more margin for error.

The image underneath displays the E-PL8's sensor size compared to other common sizes. The E-PL8 sensor comes with a crop factor of 2.1 and is displayed in green.

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To get a sense of specific aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Olympus E-PL8 dimensions

Olympus E-PL8 is 0.79 pounds (357 grams or 12.59 oz) and the physical size of the camera is 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5"). The weight of average Entry-Level Mirrorless camera is 329 grams and the Olympus E-PL8 is similar as compared with other competitors.

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Here is a image of the Olympus E-PL8 besides a softdrink so you're able to have a feel for its size.

Olympus PEN E-PL8 dimensions scale

The top view underneath will provide the button design on the E-PL8.

Olympus PEN E-PL8 topview buttons dials

Olympus E-PL8 Lens features

The E-PL8 fits the Micro Four Thirds mount and has 162 lenses to choose from. Here is a small number of the lenses we have in our database that will work with the E-PL8.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Samyang-20mm-F1.8-ED-AS-UMC-Micro-Four-Thirds lensSamyang 20mm F1.8 ED AS UMC20mmf/1.8497g
Samyang-100mm-F2.8-Macro-MFT-Mount lensSamyang 100mm F2.8 Macro100mmf/2.8720g
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Olympus-M.Zuiko-Digital-ED-30mm-F3.5-Macro lensOlympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 30mm F3.5 Macro30mmf/3.5128g
Panasonic-Lumix-G-Macro-30mm-F2.8-ASPH-Mega-OIS lensPanasonic Lumix G Macro 30mm F2.8 ASPH Mega OIS30mmf/2.8 180g
Olympus-M.Zuiko-Digital-ED-17mm-F1.2-Pro lensOlympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 17mm F1.2 Pro17mmf/1.2390g
Olympus-M.Zuiko-Digital-25mm-F1.8 lensOlympus M.Zuiko Digital 25mm F1.825mmf/1.8 136g
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Olympus-M.Zuiko-ED-75-300mm-f4.8-6.7-II lensOlympus M.Zuiko ED 75-300mm f4.8-6.7 II75-300mmf/4.8-6.7 423g
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL8 Connectivity

The E-PL8 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Digital cameras that include NFC and / or Bluetooth connectivity can easily be controlled wirelessly with smartphones. You are able to transfer pictures and sometimes adjust settings without connecting physically with the camera.

Some apps also allow a Liveview and release the shutter when you are not close to the camera. If the camera includes a HDMI out, it could be connected to an external screen. Many cameras enable you to charge the battery pack with the USB socket.

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Olympus E-PL8 Video features

The highest possible video quality on the Olympus E-PL8 is 1920 x 1080 and it can record in H.264 and Motion JPEG format. 1080p quality provides a good balance in quality versus file size but 1080p will not leave you with much room to crop. The body does not offer a mic and / or headphone socket which means you have absolutely no control over your audio. It is probably best to shop for an alternative model if you need better audio in your video clips.

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Olympus E-PL8 Weather Sealing

Olympus E-PL8 does not have environment proofing so wet conditions can easily ruin the camera.

Olympus E-PL8 Display and Viewfinder

The Olympus E-PL8 is equipped with a 3" tilting display screen having a resolution of 1,037k dots.

Additionally the display screen is touch friendly which means that you can easily switch focus points as well as adjust settings with your finger.

Olympus PEN E-PL8 screen and viewfinder Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

The ViewFinder specifications regarding Olympus E-PL8 are the following:

  • ViewFinder Electronic (optional)

In those sunny outdoor conditions that make the camera displays washed out and hard to view, viewfinders will be very helpful.

Olympus E-PL8 Shutter features

Olympus E-PL8 continuous shooting rate is 8.0 frames per second. The maximum shutter speed is 1/4000 sec.

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Olympus E-PL8 Flash and Hot shoe features

Olympus E-PL8 includes external flash support but does not have built in flash.

Olympus E-PL8 Autofocusing features

Olympus E-PL8 includes only Contrast Detect AF and does not have Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot faster and exact as compared with Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera supports Face detect which makes it useful for portrait photography.

The AF system supports 81 focus points to select from. Olympus E-PL8 has touch to focus. You are able to use your fingers to adjust focus. It also has Tracking AF for moving things. Olympus E-PL8 can use manual focus if required in low light occasions or you want to have more accurate focus control.

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Olympus E-PL8 Battery life

The battery life in the Olympus E-PL8 is designed to last for 350 shots with respect to the CIPA standards making it similar to its rivals. The average Entry-Level Mirrorless camera battery life is 343. Fujifilm X-S20 has the best (750) battery life in this kind of cameras.

Following is a list of Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras that have the best battery life:

Olympus E-PL8 for various categories of photography

The following bar chart displays a summary of the Olympus E-PL8 for various categories of photography. To view more, go to the specific paragraph underneath.

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL8

The Olympus E-PL8 gets a rating of 72 which is nice, and means the camera is a very decent choice for portraits. Shooting portrait images favors greatly towards sensor dimension, RAW support in addition to the ability to utilize external flash.

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manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats

Olympus E-PL8 Street photography information

Coming in at a outstanding points total of 84, the Olympus E-PL8 is a fantastic pick to use in street photography. A good street photography camera comes with a good balance of image quality and portability.

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screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
offers touch to focus
good high ISO (25,600)

Olympus E-PL8 Sports photography factors

A very good sports photography score of 67 means the Olympus E-PL8 is a good pick for shooting sports. A camera really should have great tracking and fast continuous shooting for sports photography.

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has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect autofocus

Olympus E-PL8 as a Travel photography camera

Portability is really important in getting a camera for travel. Over-all, the Olympus E-PL8 gets a very good 71 for a travelling camera which makes it a good option to take with you on your vacations.

Photography Glossary
has focus via touch
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly

Olympus E-PL8 Landscape photography info

If you're looking to buy a digital camera for landscape photos, the most critical factor is going to be image quality. The Olympus E-PL8 and it's terrific rating of 80 for a landscape camera is a terrific choice within the current marketplace.

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manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats

Olympus E-PL8 as a Vlogging camera

A vlogging camera should really posses a articulating display, microphone input and ideally image stabilization. Considering all the details, the Olympus E-PL8 is not really very good for vlogging as it delivers a dreadful score of 35.

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touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
does not have microphone support

Olympus E-PL8 Alternatives

If you are in the market for alternatives to the E-PL8, below is a collection of the highest scored cameras which fall within the class of Entry-Level Mirrorless.

The line chart below shows you a summary of the E-PL8 versus it's top rated competitors listed earlier.

Following are additional cameras you might check out as alternatives. To read through a comprehensive comparison, simply click the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Make
Olympus
Model
Olympus PEN E-PL8
Class
Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released
2016-09-19
Body design
Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Chip
TruePic VII
Sensor size
Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions
17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area
224.9mm²
Sensor resolution
16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution
4608 x 3456
RAW format
Max native ISO
25600
Min native ISO
200
Min enhanced ISO
100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points
81
Lens
Lens mount
Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses
107
Focal length multiplier
2.1
Screen
Range of display
Tilting
Display sizing
3 inch
Display resolution
1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
Electronic (optional)
DXO scores
DXO Overall score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Minimum shutter speed
60s
Fastest shutter speed
1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed
8.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range
no built-in flash
Flash settings
no built-in flash
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions
1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution
1920x1080
Video data format
H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
357 gr (0.79 lbs)
Dimensions
115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5")
Other
Battery life
350 images
Battery form
Battery Pack
Self timer
Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots
1
Cost at release
$500