SilverShutter
Mu-43 Regular
Hello folks!
This week I finally pulled the trigger on a almost-new condition E-PL8 from ebay. For the past year or so, I had been using an EPM1 as my secondary camera, and despite its limitations and the shabby overall state of the camera, I've been quite happy having something more compact and point-and-shoot like compared to the EM10ii I regularly use. It's not my intention to make a full-fledged review of this camera, I'm certain I'm a few years late to that, but perhaps shed some light on using this camera as a possible second body which is something I've not seen discussed as often. As of November of 2020, these cameras go for around 150-200€ body only, a bit more if you want the kit lens.
The E-PL8 is a bit of an oddball sometimes, and others just too average to draw much attention. First of all, it is an extremely good looking camera to look at, and to hold, with responsive and secure dials, and clicky buttons. However, on the inside, it's nothing revolutionary: this is yet another E-PL7, or a shrunken down version of the EM10 Mark I. Unlike its bigger cousin however, this does not have any EVF and loses a dial in the process. Same 16MP sensor, with the 3 axis stabilisation, and no electronic shutter (although we get the anti-shock option) and WiFi but no Bluetooth capabilities. S-AF is quick and precise. Couldn't tell you about C-AF although I presume its pretty useless, I don't shoot action so I don't care.
I've heard criticism of the way Olympus marketed this camera, and the subsequent EPLs to the "smartphone" crowd, or the casual instagram/youtube vlogger: personally its seems like a decision by Olympus to sell kinda overpriced cameras (at their original retail price) to a market that won't probably know any better. But let's not be fooled, outside that marketing campaign, this is still a full fledged camera: deep menus that leave any long time user still trying to figure them out at times, and controls for basically any need you may want, Live Composite, focus peaking, etc. The button layout is straightforward and very customisable as is usual with Olympus. I do still however miss the back dial I grew used to in my Pen Mini. The four buttons are alright, but it would have been a nice easy addition. The main dial around the shutter is nice and clicky however. The camera has an AP2 port so you can use the removable EVF, the microphone adapter or the cute little flash that comes with it in a small puch (how adorable it looks though)
The screen tilts but doesn't fold out. It can come down in a 180º movement to allow selfie photos and videos to be taken. Again, keeping in line with the target audience, but I have to say its a nice feature to have in a camera with no folding screen to get some photos of yourself. Because of this system, the screen movements are kind of strange. In the picture above you can see one of the weird positions this allows, not sure what use it has but it does make the system feel slightly clunky and flimsy and doesnt feel extremely secure.
Some people criticized the fact that the screen tilts downwards because of handheld tripods interfering and so on. It's 2020 and this is not the camera to get for video vlogging: only 1080p and limited controls. I saw Rob Trek used a flash bracket to overcome this however, so I'm sure in a pinch it could work. I don't do video, and I don't understand bit-rates so I'm afraid I cant comment much else.
The image quality is the same as any 16MP Olympus body. That is, if you like it then you will feel right at home. If to you, however, this sensor is long in the tooth and is not enough, you will have to look somewhere else. I'm still very happy with the output from that sensor, particularly compared to the 12MP predecessor and considering this is a second camera the output matches that of my EM10ii which makes editing a lot easier. That in part is one of the main strong points of this camera as a back up: it uses the exact same batteries as my main body and delivers the exact same results.
Compared to the EPM1, it's bigger and heavier, although very few interchangeable lens cameras are as light and small as the Pen Mini. For the added functionalities, It doesn't bother me too much but it does have some impact if you plan to carry it in a pocket.
When I see and use this camera, I get the feeling it does not deserve to be as cheap as it is. With EP1 and EP2s hovering around 100€, this model only costed me 80€ more and it is clear to anyone the massive difference between these two cameras. Even more jarring, Olympus still sells the EPL9 and 10 for 400-600€ new, which are a slightly dumbed-down EPL-8, lack the AP2 port but bring 4k video and the electronic shutter. Just like the EM10ii, Olympus decided that the subsequent models needed 4k at the cost of many functionalities, and also like the EM10ii, it's cheap and works very well.
You could also get the EPL7, whichever you find prettiest. They are both cheap and cheerful little cameras.
This week I finally pulled the trigger on a almost-new condition E-PL8 from ebay. For the past year or so, I had been using an EPM1 as my secondary camera, and despite its limitations and the shabby overall state of the camera, I've been quite happy having something more compact and point-and-shoot like compared to the EM10ii I regularly use. It's not my intention to make a full-fledged review of this camera, I'm certain I'm a few years late to that, but perhaps shed some light on using this camera as a possible second body which is something I've not seen discussed as often. As of November of 2020, these cameras go for around 150-200€ body only, a bit more if you want the kit lens.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
The E-PL8 is a bit of an oddball sometimes, and others just too average to draw much attention. First of all, it is an extremely good looking camera to look at, and to hold, with responsive and secure dials, and clicky buttons. However, on the inside, it's nothing revolutionary: this is yet another E-PL7, or a shrunken down version of the EM10 Mark I. Unlike its bigger cousin however, this does not have any EVF and loses a dial in the process. Same 16MP sensor, with the 3 axis stabilisation, and no electronic shutter (although we get the anti-shock option) and WiFi but no Bluetooth capabilities. S-AF is quick and precise. Couldn't tell you about C-AF although I presume its pretty useless, I don't shoot action so I don't care.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
I've heard criticism of the way Olympus marketed this camera, and the subsequent EPLs to the "smartphone" crowd, or the casual instagram/youtube vlogger: personally its seems like a decision by Olympus to sell kinda overpriced cameras (at their original retail price) to a market that won't probably know any better. But let's not be fooled, outside that marketing campaign, this is still a full fledged camera: deep menus that leave any long time user still trying to figure them out at times, and controls for basically any need you may want, Live Composite, focus peaking, etc. The button layout is straightforward and very customisable as is usual with Olympus. I do still however miss the back dial I grew used to in my Pen Mini. The four buttons are alright, but it would have been a nice easy addition. The main dial around the shutter is nice and clicky however. The camera has an AP2 port so you can use the removable EVF, the microphone adapter or the cute little flash that comes with it in a small puch (how adorable it looks though)
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
The screen tilts but doesn't fold out. It can come down in a 180º movement to allow selfie photos and videos to be taken. Again, keeping in line with the target audience, but I have to say its a nice feature to have in a camera with no folding screen to get some photos of yourself. Because of this system, the screen movements are kind of strange. In the picture above you can see one of the weird positions this allows, not sure what use it has but it does make the system feel slightly clunky and flimsy and doesnt feel extremely secure.
Some people criticized the fact that the screen tilts downwards because of handheld tripods interfering and so on. It's 2020 and this is not the camera to get for video vlogging: only 1080p and limited controls. I saw Rob Trek used a flash bracket to overcome this however, so I'm sure in a pinch it could work. I don't do video, and I don't understand bit-rates so I'm afraid I cant comment much else.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
The image quality is the same as any 16MP Olympus body. That is, if you like it then you will feel right at home. If to you, however, this sensor is long in the tooth and is not enough, you will have to look somewhere else. I'm still very happy with the output from that sensor, particularly compared to the 12MP predecessor and considering this is a second camera the output matches that of my EM10ii which makes editing a lot easier. That in part is one of the main strong points of this camera as a back up: it uses the exact same batteries as my main body and delivers the exact same results.
Compared to the EPM1, it's bigger and heavier, although very few interchangeable lens cameras are as light and small as the Pen Mini. For the added functionalities, It doesn't bother me too much but it does have some impact if you plan to carry it in a pocket.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
When I see and use this camera, I get the feeling it does not deserve to be as cheap as it is. With EP1 and EP2s hovering around 100€, this model only costed me 80€ more and it is clear to anyone the massive difference between these two cameras. Even more jarring, Olympus still sells the EPL9 and 10 for 400-600€ new, which are a slightly dumbed-down EPL-8, lack the AP2 port but bring 4k video and the electronic shutter. Just like the EM10ii, Olympus decided that the subsequent models needed 4k at the cost of many functionalities, and also like the EM10ii, it's cheap and works very well.
You could also get the EPL7, whichever you find prettiest. They are both cheap and cheerful little cameras.
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