Olympus PEN E-PL8

The Olympus PEN E-PL8 is a 16MP Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera with a Four Thirds Live MOS sensor, 81-point autofocus, a 3-inch 1,037,000-dot tilting touchscreen, built-in Wi-Fi, 8fps burst shooting, Full HD 1080p video at 30fps, and a body weight of just 357 grams — making it one of the most compact and stylish entry points into interchangeable-lens photography.

Key Specifications

• Sensor: 16MP Four Thirds Live MOS sensor with 2.0x crop factor
• Autofocus: 81-point contrast-detect AF with touchscreen tap-to-focus support
• Burst shooting: Up to 8fps at full 16MP resolution
• ISO range: ISO 200–25600 for shooting in varied lighting conditions
• Shutter speed: 60 seconds to 1/4000s, with a rated shutter life of 100,000 actuations
• Display: 3-inch tilting touchscreen at 1,037,000 dots — flips down for selfies and vlogging angles
• Video: Full HD 1920×1080 at up to 30fps; no external mic jack
• Connectivity: Built-in Wi-Fi for remote shooting and image transfer; HDMI output for external monitors
• Lens mount: Micro Four Thirds — compatible with a huge ecosystem of Olympus and Panasonic lenses
• Body: 357g body-only with hot shoe, integrated sensor cleaning, and SD card storage

What makes the Olympus PEN E-PL8 special?

The E-PL8 sits in a sweet spot that a lot of cameras miss: it looks genuinely beautiful, handles well, and doesn't make photography feel like homework. The TruePic VII image processor does a solid job of extracting clean, well-saturated files from the 16MP Live MOS sensor — even when you push ISO into the higher range. The tilting rear screen makes it practical for shooting from low angles or propping it up for a self-portrait without any gymnastics.

Compared to the Olympus E-PL7 (released two years earlier), the E-PL8 brings a refined design with a cleaner top plate, improved button layout, and an updated interface that's noticeably friendlier for newcomers. The Olympus E-PL6 is a step further back and lacks several of the handling refinements. If you're comparing across brands, the Panasonic LUMIX G7 shares the same Micro Four Thirds mount and offers 4K video — useful if video is your main focus — but it's considerably bulkier. The Panasonic GX85 is another compact Micro Four Thirds alternative worth looking at if in-body stabilization is a priority.

One thing to set expectations on: the E-PL8 has no built-in viewfinder, which is a deliberate design choice to keep the body slim. It does have a hot shoe, so you can attach an optional electronic viewfinder if you need one. There's also no built-in flash — you'll want to keep a small clip-on or TTL-compatible unit in your bag for indoor events. What you do get is a camera that feels purpose-built for travel and everyday shooting, where size and style genuinely matter.

The mirrorless format means faster, quieter operation than a DSLR of comparable sensor size, and the Micro Four Thirds ecosystem gives you access to a wide range of Micro Four Thirds lenses from both Olympus and Panasonic — including compact primes like the Olympus M.Zuiko 45mm f/1.8 and the Panasonic-Leica 15mm f/1.7, which are excellent travel companions for this body.

Who is the Olympus PEN E-PL8 for?

The E-PL8 is a great match for travellers who want proper image quality without lugging a heavy system. At 357 grams, it slips into a jacket pocket with a pancake lens attached, and the tilting touchscreen means you're not hunched over trying to compose awkward shots. If you're the kind of person who shoots street scenes, café interiors, and the occasional portrait while travelling, this camera covers all of it comfortably.

It's also well-suited to anyone stepping up from a smartphone for the first time. The touch-to-focus interface feels immediately familiar, auto modes are genuinely capable, and the learning curve into manual controls is gentle. The Olympus E-M10 II is worth considering if you want a built-in viewfinder and in-body stabilization on a similar budget — it's a bit bulkier but still very compact by DSLR standards.

Content creators who want to document their travels on video will find the 1080p 30fps recording usable for social media, though the lack of a microphone jack is a real limitation for anyone serious about audio. For casual YouTube vlogs or Instagram clips, the built-in microphone and tilting screen work together nicely.

Browse the full range of Olympus cameras if you want to compare the E-PL8 alongside other PEN and OM-D bodies before deciding.

Buying a used Olympus PEN E-PL8

Picking up a second-hand E-PL8 is a smart way to get into the Micro Four Thirds system without overspending. The body is well-built with solid dials and clicky, responsive buttons — physical signs that Olympus built this to last. The 100,000-actuation shutter rating means most used examples will still have plenty of life left, especially since many E-PL8s were used as travel and casual cameras rather than high-volume professional tools.

When inspecting a pre-owned E-PL8, check the following: confirm the tilting screen hinge moves smoothly and the touchscreen responds accurately across the whole surface; test the hot shoe contact for corrosion if the previous owner used flash regularly; verify Wi-Fi pairing works via the Olympus Image Share app; and check the sensor cleaning system has been activated at least once (Olympus's integrated dust reduction works well but benefits from occasional use). Run a test burst to confirm 8fps is firing without hesitation.

Every used E-PL8 on Camera-tweedehands.nl is individually photographed and professionally inspected before listing. Each comes with a minimum 12 months warranty — the exact period is shown on the individual variant listing — plus 14-day returns so you can test it properly in real shooting conditions.