Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax 645Z
The Olympus PEN E-PL8 and the Pentax 645Z are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in September 2016 and April 2014. The E-PL8 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the 645Z is a DSLR. The cameras are based on a Four Thirds (E-PL8) and a medium format (645Z) sensor. The Olympus has a resolution of 15.9 megapixels, whereas the Pentax provides 51.1 MP.
Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus PEN E-PL8 and the Pentax 645Z? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.
Body comparison
An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Olympus E-PL8 and the Pentax 645Z is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.
The E-PL8 can be obtained in three different colors (black, brown, white), while the 645Z is only available in black.



If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Pentax 645Z is considerably larger (137 percent) than the Olympus E-PL8. Moreover, the 645Z is substantially heavier (334 percent) than the E-PL8. It is noteworthy in this context that the 645Z is splash and dust-proof, while the E-PL8 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.
The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.
Concerning battery life, the E-PL8 gets 350 shots out of its Olympus BLS-50 battery, while the 645Z can take 650 images on a single charge of its Pentax D-LI90 power pack.
The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

| Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price |
Street Price |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Olympus E-PL8 | 115 mm | 67 mm | 38 mm | 357 g | 350 | n | Sep 2016 | US$ 549 | ebay.com | |
| 2. | Pentax 645Z | 156 mm | 117 mm | 123 mm | 1550 g | 650 | Y | Apr 2014 | US$ 8 499 | ebay.com | |
| 3. | Canon 5DS | 152 mm | 116 mm | 76 mm | 930 g | 700 | Y | Feb 2015 | US$ 3 699 | ebay.com | |
| 4. | Canon 5DS R | 152 mm | 116 mm | 76 mm | 930 g | 700 | Y | Feb 2015 | US$ 3 699 | ebay.com | |
| 5. | Hasselblad X1D | 150 mm | 98 mm | 71 mm | 725 g | .. | Y | Jun 2016 | US$ 8 995 | ebay.com | |
| 6. | Leica SL | 147 mm | 104 mm | 39 mm | 847 g | 400 | Y | Oct 2015 | US$ 7 449 | ebay.com | |
| 7. | Olympus E-M10 II | 120 mm | 83 mm | 47 mm | 390 g | 320 | n | Aug 2015 | US$ 649 | ebay.com | |
| 8. | Olympus E-M10 III | 122 mm | 84 mm | 50 mm | 410 g | 330 | n | Aug 2017 | US$ 649 | ebay.com | |
| 9. | Olympus E-PL5 | 111 mm | 64 mm | 38 mm | 325 g | 360 | n | Sep 2012 | US$ 599 | ebay.com | |
| 10. | Olympus E-PL6 | 111 mm | 64 mm | 38 mm | 325 g | 360 | n | May 2013 | US$ 599 | ebay.com | |
| 11. | Olympus E-PL7 | 115 mm | 67 mm | 38 mm | 357 g | 350 | n | Aug 2014 | US$ 599 | ebay.com | |
| 12. | Olympus E-PL9 | 117 mm | 68 mm | 39 mm | 380 g | 350 | n | Feb 2018 | US$ 599 | ebay.com | |
| 13. | Olympus E-PL10 | 117 mm | 68 mm | 39 mm | 380 g | 350 | n | Oct 2019 | US$ 599 | ebay.com | |
| 14. | Olympus E-PM2 | 110 mm | 64 mm | 34 mm | 269 g | 360 | n | Sep 2012 | US$ 499 | ebay.com | |
| 15. | Panasonic G7 | 125 mm | 86 mm | 77 mm | 410 g | 350 | n | May 2015 | US$ 649 | ebay.com | |
| 16. | Panasonic GX85 | 122 mm | 71 mm | 44 mm | 426 g | 290 | n | Apr 2016 | US$ 799 | amazon.com | |
| 17. | Pentax 645D | 156 mm | 117 mm | 119 mm | 1480 g | 800 | Y | Mar 2010 | US$ 9 995 | ebay.com | |
| Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. | |||||||||||
The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The E-PL8 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 94 percent) than the 645Z, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.
Sensor comparison
The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.
Of the two cameras under consideration, the Olympus E-PL8 features a Four Thirds sensor and the Pentax 645Z a medium format sensor. The sensor area in the 645Z is 539 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 2.0 and 0.79. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

With 51.1MP, the 645Z offers a higher resolution than the E-PL8 (15.9MP), but the 645Z nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.30μm versus 3.76μm for the E-PL8) due to its larger sensor. However, the E-PL8 is a much more recent model (by 2 years and 5 months) than the 645Z, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the 645Z has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.
The resolution advantage of the Pentax 645Z implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the 645Z for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 41.3 x 31 inches or 104.9 x 78.6 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 33 x 24.8 inches or 83.9 x 62.9 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 27.5 x 20.6 inches or 69.9 x 52.4 cm. The corresponding values for the Olympus E-PL8 are 23 x 17.3 inches or 58.5 x 43.9 cm for good quality, 18.4 x 13.8 inches or 46.8 x 35.1 cm for very good quality, and 15.4 x 11.5 inches or 39 x 29.3 cm for excellent quality prints.
The Olympus PEN E-PL8 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 6400, which can be extended to ISO 100-25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Pentax 645Z are ISO 100 to ISO 204800 (no boost).
Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

| Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Olympus E-PL8 | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 23.0 | 12.6 | 1030 | 73 | |
| 2. | Pentax 645Z | Medium Format | 51.1 | 8256 | 6192 | 1080/60i | 26.0 | 14.7 | 4505 | 101 | |
| 3. | Canon 5DS | Full Frame | 50.3 | 8688 | 5792 | 1080/30p | 24.7 | 12.4 | 2381 | 87 | |
| 4. | Canon 5DS R | Full Frame | 50.3 | 8688 | 5792 | 1080/30p | 24.6 | 12.4 | 2308 | 86 | |
| 5. | Hasselblad X1D | Medium Format | 51.3 | 8272 | 6200 | 1080/25p | 26.2 | 14.8 | 4489 | 102 | |
| 6. | Leica SL | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/30p | 25.0 | 13.4 | 1821 | 88 | |
| 7. | Olympus E-M10 II | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/60p | 23.1 | 12.5 | 842 | 73 | |
| 8. | Olympus E-M10 III | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 4K/30p | 23.1 | 12.8 | 1120 | 74 | |
| 9. | Olympus E-PL5 | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 22.8 | 12.3 | 889 | 72 | |
| 10. | Olympus E-PL6 | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 22.5 | 12.0 | 717 | 68 | |
| 11. | Olympus E-PL7 | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 22.7 | 12.4 | 873 | 72 | |
| 12. | Olympus E-PL9 | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 4K/30p | 23.1 | 12.8 | 1162 | 74 | |
| 13. | Olympus E-PL10 | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 4K/30p | 23.3 | 13.1 | 1324 | 76 | |
| 14. | Olympus E-PM2 | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 22.7 | 12.2 | 932 | 72 | |
| 15. | Panasonic G7 | Four Thirds | 15.8 | 4592 | 3448 | 4K/30p | 22.8 | 12.4 | 904 | 71 | |
| 16. | Panasonic GX85 | Four Thirds | 15.8 | 4592 | 3448 | 4K/30p | 22.9 | 12.6 | 662 | 71 | |
| 17. | Pentax 645D | Medium Format | 39.5 | 7264 | 5440 | none | 24.6 | 12.6 | 1262 | 82 | |
| Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age. | |||||||||||
Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the 645Z provides a faster frame rate than the E-PL8. It can shoot movie footage at 1080/60i, while the Olympus is limited to 1080/30p.
Feature comparison
Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the 645Z has an optical viewfinder, which can be very useful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the E-PL8 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. That said, the E-PL8 can be equipped with an optional viewfinder – the VF-4. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Olympus E-PL8 and Pentax 645Z along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

| Camera Model |
Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) |
Control Panel (yes/no) |
LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots) |
LCD Attach- ment |
Touch Screen (yes/no) |
Max Shutter Speed * |
Max Shutter Flaps * |
Built-in Flash (yes/no) |
Built-in Image Stab |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Olympus E-PL8 | optional | n | 3.0 / 1037 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 8.0/s | n | Y | |
| 2. | Pentax 645Z | optical | Y | 3.2 / 1037 | tilting | n | 1/4000s | 3.0/s | n | n | |
| 3. | Canon 5DS | optical | Y | 3.2 / 1040 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 5.0/s | n | n | |
| 4. | Canon 5DS R | optical | Y | 3.2 / 1040 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 5.0/s | n | n | |
| 5. | Hasselblad X1D | 2360 | n | 3.0 / 920 | fixed | Y | 1/2000s | 2.3/s | n | n | |
| 6. | Leica SL | 4400 | Y | 3.0 / 1040 | fixed | Y | 1/8000s | 11.0/s | n | n | |
| 7. | Olympus E-M10 II | 2360 | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 8.0/s | Y | Y | |
| 8. | Olympus E-M10 III | 2360 | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 8.6/s | Y | Y | |
| 9. | Olympus E-PL5 | optional | n | 3.0 / 460 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 8.0/s | n | Y | |
| 10. | Olympus E-PL6 | optional | n | 3.0 / 460 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 8.0/s | n | Y | |
| 11. | Olympus E-PL7 | optional | n | 3.0 / 1037 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 8.0/s | n | Y | |
| 12. | Olympus E-PL9 | none | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 8.6/s | Y | Y | |
| 13. | Olympus E-PL10 | none | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 8.6/s | Y | Y | |
| 14. | Olympus E-PM2 | optional | n | 3.0 / 460 | fixed | Y | 1/4000s | 8.0/s | n | Y | |
| 15. | Panasonic G7 | 2360 | n | 3.0 / 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 7.0/s | Y | n | |
| 16. | Panasonic GX85 | 2765 | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 8.0/s | Y | Y | |
| 17. | Pentax 645D | optical | Y | 3.0 / 921 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 1.1/s | n | n | |
| Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one. | |||||||||||
One feature that differentiates the E-PL8 and the 645Z is in-body image stabilization (IBIS). The E-PL8 reduces the risk of handshake-induced blur with all attached lenses, while the 645Z offers no blur reduction with lenses that themselves do not provide optical image stabilization.
The E-PL8 has an articulated LCD that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in snapping selfies. In contrast, the 645Z does not have a selfie-screen.The Olympus E-PL8 and the Pentax 645Z both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.
Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the E-PL8 and the 645Z write their files to SDXC cards. The 645Z features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the E-PL8 only has one slot. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.
Connectivity comparison
For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Olympus PEN E-PL8 and Pentax 645Z and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

| Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Mic / Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support |
NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Olympus E-PL8 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| 2. | Pentax 645Z | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | mini | 3.0 | - | - | - | |
| 3. | Canon 5DS | Y | mono / mono | Y | - | mini | 3.0 | - | - | - | |
| 4. | Canon 5DS R | Y | mono / mono | Y | - | mini | 3.0 | - | - | - | |
| 5. | Hasselblad X1D | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | mini | 3.0 | Y | - | - | |
| 6. | Leica SL | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | full | 3.0 | Y | - | - | |
| 7. | Olympus E-M10 II | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| 8. | Olympus E-M10 III | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| 9. | Olympus E-PL5 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| 10. | Olympus E-PL6 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| 11. | Olympus E-PL7 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| 12. | Olympus E-PL9 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
| 13. | Olympus E-PL10 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
| 14. | Olympus E-PM2 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| 15. | Panasonic G7 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| 16. | Panasonic GX85 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| 17. | Pentax 645D | Y | stereo / - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - |
It is notable that the E-PL8 offers wifi support, while the 645Z does not. Wifi can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location.
Studio photographers will appreciate that the Pentax 645Z (unlike the E-PL8) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.
Both the E-PL8 and the 645Z have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The E-PL8 was replaced by the Olympus E-PL9, while the 645Z does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the E-PL8 and 645Z can be found, respectively, in the Olympus E-PL8 Manual (free pdf) or the online Pentax 645Z Manual.
Review summary
So what is the bottom line? Which of the two cameras – the Olympus E-PL8 or the Pentax 645Z – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-PL8:
- Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
- Fewer buttons to press: Is equipped with a touch-sensitive rear screen to facilitate handling.
- More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
- Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (8 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
- More compact: Is smaller (115x67mm vs 156x117mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
- Less heavy: Is lighter (by 1193g or 77 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
- Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
- More legacy lens friendly: Can take a broad range of non-native lenses via adapters.
- Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
- More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (94 percent cheaper at launch).
- More modern: Reflects 2 years and 5 months of technical progress since the 645Z launch.

Arguments in favor of the Pentax 645Z:
- More detail: Has more megapixels (51.1 vs 15.9MP), which boosts linear resolution by 79%.
- Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
- Better image quality: Features bigger pixels on a larger sensor for higher quality imaging.
- Richer colors: The pixel size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
- More dynamic range: Larger pixels capture a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
- Better low-light sensitivity: Larger pixels means good image quality even under poor lighting.
- Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (1080/60i versus 1080/30p).
- Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
- Easier framing: Has an optical viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
- Easier setting verification: Features a control panel on top to check shooting parameters.
- Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
- Longer lasting: Gets more shots (650 versus 350) out of a single battery charge.
- Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
- Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.0 vs 2.0).
- Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
- Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
- More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in April 2014).
If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the 645Z is the clear winner of the contest (17 : 11 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.
How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus E-PL8 and the Pentax 645Z place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera and Best DSLR Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.
In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the E-PL8 or the 645Z. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.
Expert reviews
This is where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

| Camera Model |
AP score |
CL score |
DCW score |
DPR score |
EPZ score |
PB score |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price |
Street Price |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Olympus E-PL8 | .. | .. | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Sep 2016 | US$ 549 | ebay.com | |
| 2. | Pentax 645Z | 5/5 | .. | 3.5/5 | .. | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Apr 2014 | US$ 8 499 | ebay.com | |
| 3. | Canon 5DS | .. | + | .. | 83/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2015 | US$ 3 699 | ebay.com | |
| 4. | Canon 5DS R | 5/5 | + | .. | 83/100 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2015 | US$ 3 699 | ebay.com | |
| 5. | Hasselblad X1D | .. | o | .. | 81/100 | .. | 4/5 | Jun 2016 | US$ 8 995 | ebay.com | |
| 6. | Leica SL | 4/5 | .. | 4/5 | 84/100 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Oct 2015 | US$ 7 449 | ebay.com | |
| 7. | Olympus E-M10 II | 4.5/5 | + + | .. | 80/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Aug 2015 | US$ 649 | ebay.com | |
| 8. | Olympus E-M10 III | .. | + | 5/5 | 80/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Aug 2017 | US$ 649 | ebay.com | |
| 9. | Olympus E-PL5 | 3/5 | + + | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2012 | US$ 599 | ebay.com | |
| 10. | Olympus E-PL6 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | May 2013 | US$ 599 | ebay.com | |
| 11. | Olympus E-PL7 | 4/5 | + | .. | .. | 5/5 | 4/5 | Aug 2014 | US$ 599 | ebay.com | |
| 12. | Olympus E-PL9 | .. | + | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Feb 2018 | US$ 599 | ebay.com | |
| 13. | Olympus E-PL10 | .. | .. | 4/5 | 77/100 | .. | 4/5 | Oct 2019 | US$ 599 | ebay.com | |
| 14. | Olympus E-PM2 | 3/5 | .. | .. | 77/100 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2012 | US$ 499 | ebay.com | |
| 15. | Panasonic G7 | 4/5 | + + | 3.5/5 | 80/100 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | May 2015 | US$ 649 | ebay.com | |
| 16. | Panasonic GX85 | 4.5/5 | + + | .. | 82/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Apr 2016 | US$ 799 | amazon.com | |
| 17. | Pentax 645D | 5/5 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | Mar 2010 | US$ 9 995 | ebay.com | |
| Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. | |||||||||||
The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons
Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just use the search menu below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.
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Specifications: Olympus E-PL8 vs Pentax 645Z
Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.
| Camera Model | Olympus E-PL8 | Pentax 645Z |
|---|---|---|
| Camera Type | Mirrorless system camera | Digital single lens reflex |
| Camera Lens | Micro Four Thirds lenses | Pentax 645 mount lenses |
| Launch Date | September 2016 | April 2014 |
| Launch Price | USD 549 | USD 8,499 |
| Sensor Specs | Olympus E-PL8 | Pentax 645Z |
| Sensor Technology | CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor Format | Four Thirds Sensor | Medium Format Sensor |
| Sensor Size | 17.3 x 13.0 mm | 43.8 x 32.8 mm |
| Sensor Area | 224.9 mm2 | 1436.64 mm2 |
| Sensor Diagonal | 21.6 mm | 54.7 mm |
| Crop Factor | 2.0x | 0.79x |
| Sensor Resolution | 15.9 Megapixels | 51.1 Megapixels |
| Image Resolution | 4608 x 3456 pixels | 8256 x 6192 pixels |
| Pixel Pitch | 3.76 μm | 5.30 μm |
| Pixel Density | 7.08 MP/cm2 | 3.56 MP/cm2 |
| Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | no AA filter |
| Movie Capability | 1080/30p Video | 1080/60i Video |
| ISO Setting | 200 - 6,400 ISO | 100 - 204,800 ISO |
| ISO Boost | 100 - 25,600 ISO | no Enhancement |
| Image Processor | TruePic VII | PRIME III |
| DXO Sensor Quality (score) | .. | 101 |
| DXO Color Depth (bits) | .. | 26.0 |
| DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | .. | 14.7 |
| DXO Low Light (ISO) | .. | 4505 |
| Screen Specs | Olympus E-PL8 | Pentax 645Z |
| Viewfinder Type | Viewfinder optional | Optical viewfinder |
| Viewfinder Field of View | 98% | |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.78x | |
| Top-Level Screen | no Top Display | Control Panel |
| LCD Framing | Live View | Live View |
| Rear LCD Size | 3.0inch | 3.2inch |
| LCD Resolution | 1037k dots | 1037k dots |
| LCD Attachment | Tilting screen | Tilting screen |
| Touch Input | Touchscreen | no Touchscreen |
| Shooting Specs | Olympus E-PL8 | Pentax 645Z |
| Focus System | Contrast-detect AF | Phase-detect AF |
| Manual Focusing Aid | Focus Peaking | Focus Peaking |
| Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) | 1/4000s | 1/4000s |
| Continuous Shooting | 8 shutter flaps/s | 3 shutter flaps/s |
| Time-Lapse Photography | Intervalometer built-in | Intervalometer built-in |
| Image Stabilization | In-body stabilization | Lens stabilization only |
| Fill Flash | no On-Board Flash | no On-Board Flash |
| Storage Medium | SDXC cards | SDXC cards |
| Single or Dual Card Slots | Single card slot | Dual card slots |
| UHS card support | UHS-I | UHS-I |
| Connectivity Specs | Olympus E-PL8 | Pentax 645Z |
| External Flash | Hotshoe | Hotshoe |
| Studio Flash | no PC Sync | PC Sync socket |
| USB Connector | USB 2.0 | USB 3.0 |
| HDMI Port | micro HDMI | mini HDMI |
| Microphone Port | no MIC socket | External MIC port |
| Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | no Wifi |
| Body Specs | Olympus E-PL8 | Pentax 645Z |
| Environmental Sealing | not weather sealed | Weathersealed body |
| Battery Type | Olympus BLS-50 | Pentax D-LI90 |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 350 shots per charge | 650 shots per charge |
| Body Dimensions |
115 x 67 x 38 mm (4.5 x 2.6 x 1.5 in) |
156 x 117 x 123 mm (6.1 x 4.6 x 4.8 in) |
| Camera Weight | 357 g (12.6 oz) | 1550 g (54.7 oz) |

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