While the cameras in the OM-D series can be considered Olympus’ high-end workhorses, the Pen line-up has always been more about combining beauty and style with innovative features – a philosophy that both the recently announced Pen E-PL8 and its predecessor, the Pen E-PL7, embrace.
In this comparison preview, we’re going to be taking a very quick look at the four main differences between the E-PL7 and E-PL8. Since most of the technical specifications are actually very similar, including the 16MP Micro Four Thirds sensor, 3-axis sensor stabilisation and contrast detection autofocus system, we’ll mostly focus on the updates to the design.
As always, keep in mind that this is just a comparison preview. If we manage to receive the two products at the same time, we’ll be sure to post a full comparison.
Ethics statement: The information supplied in this article is based on official specifications, press releases and our personal experience with Olympus cameras. If we get the chance to test the two cameras side-by-side, we will publish a full comparison. We were not asked to write anything about these cameras, nor were we provided any compensation of any kind. Within the article, there are affiliate links. If you decided to buy something after clicking the link, we will receive a small commission. To know more about our ethics, you can visit our full disclosure page. Thank you!
1. Updated Design with New Grip
The biggest and most obvious difference between the E-PL7 and E-PL8 is the design of the body – particularly the grip.
While the E-PL7 features a flatter but more substantial grip, the new E-PL8 has embraced a new “minimalist” grip with an elongated rectangular shape and curved angles.
The body dimensions and weight have also changed. The E-PL7 weighs in at 357g and measures 114.9 x 67 x 38.4mm, while the E-PL8 is 117.1 x 68.3 x 38.4mm and weighs 374g.
2. Different Body Colours
The second difference concerns the body colours chosen for the two cameras. Although both have a faux leather covering, they come in different colour combinations:
The E-PL7 is available in a combination of black and silver with a black grip, off-white with a beige grip, or pure black.
The new E-PL8 comes in black with silver accents and a black grip, white with cream accents and a beige grip, or light brown with a dark brown grip.
3. High Burst Shooting
The High burst speed has been raised ever so slightly from 8fps on the E-PL7 to 8.5fps on the E-PL8. The Low burst mode, on the other hand, remains the same at 3.7fps. In the real world, you will hardly notice any difference.
4. Movie Clips option
A small addition to the movie menu is the option to record 1, 2, 4 or 8 second movie clips or 16 second clips by pressing the record button before the clip ends. These clips are automatically saved to My Clips at which point users can add effects or background music and export them as single movie files.
Conclusion
The new body design and various small additions aside, there is very little that sets the E-PL7 and E-PL8 apart. Targeting bloggers, millennials and fashionistas who appreciate beautiful aesthetics and image quality superior to that of a smartphone, these two cameras are as much fashion accessories as they are powerful image-making machines.
In the end, the choice between the two cameras is straightforward: go with the design and colour combination you prefer and perhaps more importantly, decide whether you are willing to shell out over $200 extra dollars for the updated version.
Check the price of the Pen E-PL8 on
Amazon | Amazon UK | B&H Photo | eBay
Check the price of the Pen E-PL7 on
You may also enjoy the following articles:
- Olympus Pen E-PL8 vs E-PL9 – Preview
- Olympus OM-D E-M10 III vs E-PL8 – Preview
- Olympus OM-D E-M10 II vs III – Complete comparison
