Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II vs. Olympus PEN E-PL8

Camera Comparison, Reviews and Tests

In depth comparison and review of Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II and Olympus PEN E-PL8. Compare design, sensors, proximity features, memory capacities and other important specifications and features to easily choose the right camera for you. Our goal is to help you uncover differences between the products and find the digital camera that will best fit your needs.

Camera Specifications Comparison

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II vs. Olympus PEN E-PL8 Comparison Chart
DESIGN AND DIMENSIONS Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II Olympus PEN E-PL8
Product Type Digital camera - mirrorless system Digital camera - 1080p - mirrorless system
Lens Included Body only Body only
Height 8.5 cm 6.83 cm
Width 12.37 cm 11.71 cm
Depth 3.8 cm 3.84 cm
Weight 417 g 326 g
Weight Details - Camera body only: 326 g
Camera with battery and memory card: 374 g
Camera with battery, memory card and M.Zuiko 14-42mm II R lens: 491 g
Body Material Magnesium alloy -
Enclosure Colour Black | Silver Black | White
Protection Weatherproof, splashproof, dust-resistant -
SENSOR Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II Olympus PEN E-PL8
Sensor Resolution 16.05 Megapixel 16.1 Megapixel
Optical Sensor Type Live MOS Live MOS
Total Pixels 17,200,000 pixels 17,200,000 pixels
Effective Sensor Resolution 16,050,000 pixels 16,100,000 pixels
Optical Sensor Size Four Thirds (4/3") Four Thirds (17.3 x 13.0 mm)
Frame Rate (Max Resolution) - 30 fps
Sensor Dust Reduction Yes Yes
Sensor Features Supersonic Wave Filter (SWF) Supersonic Wave Filter (SWF)
Image Stabiliser Optical (5-axis image sensor shift mechanism) Optical (3-axis image sensor shift mechanism)
Built-in Optical Image Stabiliser Yes Yes
Sensors Digital level metre -
PROCESSOR Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II Olympus PEN E-PL8
Image Processor TruePic VII TruePic VII
LENS Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II Olympus PEN E-PL8
Lens Mounting Type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
FOCUSING Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II Olympus PEN E-PL8
Auto Focus TTL contrast detection TTL contrast detection
Auto Focus Points (Zones) Qty 81 800
Auto Focus Features Focus Peaking function, Manual Focus Check Live View -
AE/AF Control Subject-tracking AF, Eye detection AF Face-priority AF, Subject-tracking AF, Touch Area AF, Eye detection AF
Face Detection Eye Detect AF Eye Detect AF
VIEWFINDER Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II Olympus PEN E-PL8
Viewfinder Type Built-in - electronic -
Viewfinder Colour Support Colour -
Viewfinder Resolution 2,360,000 pixels -
Optical Viewfinder Field Coverage 100% -
Optical Viewfinder Magnification 1.48x -
Optical Viewfinder Dioptric Correction Range -4 to +2 -
Viewfinder Information Shutter speed, exposure compensation, AF-in-focus, aperture, frame counter, white balance, metering system, Exposure Mode, exposure bracketing, battery status, AF lock -
Field of View Crop Factor 2 -
EXPOSURE & WHITE BALANCE Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II Olympus PEN E-PL8
ISO (Max) 25600 25600
Native ISO 100-25600 100-25600
Light Sensitivity ISO 100, ISO auto (100-25600), ISO 200-25600 ISO 100-25600, ISO auto (100-25600)
Exposure Metering Multi-segment, centre-weighted, spot Multi-segment, centre-weighted, spot, highlight spot, shadow spot
Exposure Metering Zones 324 324
Exposure Modes Programme, bulb, automatic, manual, aperture-priority, shutter-priority Programme, bulb, automatic, manual, aperture-priority, shutter-priority
Bracketing Modes Art Filter bracketing, ISO sensitivity bracketing, Shadow Adjustment Technology, Flash Exposure Bracketing Art Filter bracketing, focus bracketing, ISO sensitivity bracketing, white balance bracketing
Shooting Programs Landscape, portrait mode, macro, beach/snow, landscape-portrait, Children, fireworks, 3D image, multiple exposure, panorama assist, night scene, panning, sports mode, sunset, candle, high key, night scene with portrait, low key, documents, nature macro, e-portrait, fisheye converter, wide converter, macro converter, handheld starlight, digital IS -
Special Effects Art, Black & White, Sepia, Monotone, Black & White Red filter, Black & White Yellow filter, Vivid, purple, blue, green, soft focus, natural, Black & White Green filter, Muted, portrait, Diorama, Cross Process, composite, partial colour, Grainy Film, Light Tone, Pop Art, Pale & Light Colour, pin hole, Gentle Sepia, i-Enhance, Dramatic Tone, Key Line, Vintage Sepia, Monotone, Neutral, Vivid, Custom Effect, soft focus, natural, Muted, Water Colour, Diorama, Cross Process, partial colour, Grainy Film, Light Tone, Pop Art, Pale & Light Colour, pin hole, Gentle Sepia, Dramatic Tone, Key Line, Vintage
White Balance Custom, automatic, presets Custom, automatic, presets
White Balance Presets Fluorescent, sunlight, tungsten light, Flash, shade, overcast, Underwater, 2000K - 14000K Incandescent, fluorescent, cloudy, sunlight, Flash, shade, Underwater, 2000K - 14000K
Shutter Type Mechanical Electronic
Max Shutter Speed 1/8000 sec 1/4000 sec
Min Shutter Speed 60 sec 60 sec
Exposure Compensation ±5 EV range, in 1, 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps ±5 EV range, in 1, 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps
Auto Exposure Bracketing 2, 3, 5 steps in 1/3, 1/2, 1 EV steps 7 steps in 1/3 or 2/3 EV steps
White Balance Bracketing Yes Yes
X-sync Speed 1/250sec, 1/8000 sec 1/125sec, 1/4000 sec
Exposure Range EV -2-20 (ISO 100) EV -2-20 - wide lens (ISO 100)
DISPLAY Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II Olympus PEN E-PL8
Type 3" LCD display 3" LCD display
Touch Screen Yes Yes
Display Format 1,037,000 pixels 1,037,000 pixels
Display Form Factor Folding Folding
Display Features Display brightness control, display colour control, Touch AF Display brightness control, display colour control
FLASH Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II Olympus PEN E-PL8
Camera Flash Detachable flash Detachable flash
Guide Number (m / ISO 100) 12.9 10
Flash Modes Fill-in mode, rear curtain sync, slow synchro, auto mode, flash OFF mode, red-eye reduction Fill-in mode, rear curtain sync, slow synchro, auto mode, flash OFF mode, red-eye reduction
Red-Eye Reduction Yes Yes
Features AF illuminator, flash +/- compensation, wireless off-camera control, flash exposure bracketing AF illuminator, flash +/- compensation, wireless off-camera control
External Flash Name Olympus FL-LM3 Olympus FL-LM1
VIDEOGRAPHY / CAMCORDER Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II Olympus PEN E-PL8
Digital Video Format AVI, MJPEG, H.264, MOV AVI, MJPEG, H.264, MOV
Image Recording Format JPEG, RAW, RAW + JPEG, MPO JPEG, RAW, RAW + JPEG, MPO
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080
Microphone Operation Mode Stereo Stereo
Microphone Features Wind noise reduction, sensitivity control Wind noise reduction, sensitivity control
MEMORY Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II Olympus PEN E-PL8
Memory Card Slot SD card SD card
Supported Memory Cards SD Memory Card, SDXC Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, SDHC UHS-I Memory Card, SDXC UHS-I Memory Card SD Memory Card, SDXC Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, SDHC UHS-I Memory Card, SDXC UHS-I Memory Card
Memory Card Included No No
Image Storage RAW 4608 x 3456 - 17 MB
JPEG 4608 x 3456 - 7.5 MB
JPEG 4608 x 3456 - 3.5 MB
JPEG 3200 x 2400 - 1.7 MB
JPEG 1280 x 960 - 0.4 MB
RAW 4608 x 3456 - 17 MB
JPEG 4608 x 3456 - 7.5 MB
JPEG 4608 x 3456 - 3.5 MB
JPEG 2560 x 1920 - 1.1 MB
JPEG 1280 x 960 - 0.4 MB
Video Capture MOV - 1920 x 1080 - 30 fps
MOV - 1920 x 1080 - 25 fps
MOV - 1920 x 1080 - 24 fps
MOV - 1920 x 1080 - 60 fps
MOV - 1920 x 1080 - 50 fps
MOV - 1280 x 720 - 60 fps
MOV - 1280 x 720 - 50 fps
MOV - 1280 x 720 - 30 fps
MOV - 1280 x 720 - 25 fps
MOV - 1280 x 720 - 24 fps
MJPEG - 1280 x 720 - 30 fps
MJPEG - 640 x 480 - 30 fps
MOV - 1920 x 1080 p - 30 fps - 24Mbps
MOV - 1920 x 1080 p - 30 fps - 16Mbps
MOV - 1280 x 720 p - 30 fps - 12Mbps
MOV - 1280 x 720 p - 30 fps - 8Mbps
MJPEG - 1280 x 720 - 30 fps
MJPEG - 640 x 480 - 30 fps
BATTERY AND CHARGING Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II Olympus PEN E-PL8
Battery Type Olympus BLN-1 Lithium Ion Olympus BLS-50 Lithium Ion
Details Olympus BLN-1 Li-ion rechargeable battery (included) Olympus BLS-50 Li-ion rechargeable battery (included)
Battery Life Photo shooting - 750 shots Photo shooting - 350 shots
Video recording - 2.5 hours
CONNECTIONS Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II Olympus PEN E-PL8
Interface Composite video/audio, HDMI, USB 2.0, Wireless LAN Composite video/audio, HDMI, USB 2.0, IEEE 802.11b/g/n
Connectivity Features Remote control via mobile devices, remote live view Remote control via mobile devices, remote live view
Print Standard DPOF support, Exif Print support, PictBridge support, PRINT Image Matching DPOF support, Exif Print support, PRINT Image Matching
Flash Terminal Hot shoe Hot shoe
Connector Type USB 2.0
Composite video/audio output
HDMI output (19 pin micro HDMI Type D)
USB 2.0
Composite video/audio output
HDMI output (19 pin micro HDMI Type D)
FEATURES Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II Olympus PEN E-PL8
Self-Timer Delay 2sec, 12sec 2sec, 12sec
Continuous Shooting Speed 5 frames per second, 10 frames per second 3.7 frames per second, 8.5 frames per second, 7.4 frames per second
HDR Mode Auto HDR mode, HDR post-processing Auto HDR mode, HDR post-processing
Additional Features Audio recording, built-in speaker, RGB primary colour filter, auto power save, digital noise reduction, sharpness control, histogram display, AE lock, AF lock, cropping an image, resizing an image, saturation control, in-camera red-eye fix, interval shooting mode, contrast control, face detection, digital tele-converter, Shadow Adjustment Technology, in-camera RAW processing, Full-time Live View, Intelligent AUTO (iAUTO), Eye-Fi Card Ready, Touch Shutter technology, GPS via mobile Audio recording, built-in speaker, auto power save, digital image rotation, camera orientation detection, histogram display, shadow point display, highlight point display, in-camera RAW processing, Full-time Live View, Intelligent AUTO (iAUTO), Eye-Fi Card Ready, Touch Shutter technology
OTHERS Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II Olympus PEN E-PL8
Included Accessories Battery charger, body cap, shoulder strap, USB cable Battery charger, body cap, shoulder strap, USB cable
Software Drivers & Utilities, Olympus Viewer 3 Drivers & Utilities, Olympus Viewer 3
Max Operating Temperature 40 °C 40 °C
Min Operating Temperature -10 °C 0 °C
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