Canon G7 X Mark II vs Olympus E-PL8

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II and the Olympus PEN E-PL8 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in February 2016 and September 2016. The G7X Mark II is a fixed lens compact, while the E-PL8 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on an one-inch (G7X Mark II) and a Four Thirds (E-PL8) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 20 megapixels, whereas the Olympus provides 15.9 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Canon G7 X Mark II		Olympus E-PL8
Fixed lens compact camera		Mirrorless system camera
24-100mm f/1.8-2.8		Micro Four Thirds lenses
20 MP, 1" Sensor		15.9 MP, Four Thirds Sensor
1080/60p Video		1080/30p Video
ISO 125-12,800 (125 - 25,600)		ISO 200-6,400 (100 - 25,600)
No viewfinder, LCD framing		Viewfinder optional
3.0 LCD, 1040k dots		3.0 LCD, 1037k dots
Tilting touchscreen		Tilting touchscreen
8 shutter flaps per second		8 shutter flaps per second
Lens-based stabilization		In-body stabilization
265 shots per battery charge		350 shots per battery charge
106 x 61 x 42 mm, 319 g		115 x 67 x 38 mm, 357 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II and the Olympus PEN E-PL8? 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 Canon G7 X Mark II and the Olympus E-PL8 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The E-PL8 can be obtained in three different colors (black, brown, white), while the G7X Mark II 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 Olympus E-PL8 is notably larger (19 percent) than the Canon G7 X Mark II. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the G7X Mark II nor the E-PL8 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the G7X Mark II has a lens built in, whereas the E-PL8 is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the E-PL8 and their specifications in the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the G7X Mark II gets 265 shots out of its NB-13L battery, while the E-PL8 can take 350 images on a single charge of its BLS-50 power pack. The power pack in the G7X Mark II can be charged via the USB port, so that it is not always necessary to take the battery charger along when travelling.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

Body Specifications

	Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
	Canon G7 X Mark II	106 mm	61 mm	42 mm	319 g	265	n	Feb 2016	699
	Olympus E-PL8	115 mm	67 mm	38 mm	357 g	350	n	Sep 2016	549
	Canon G7 X Mark III	105 mm	61 mm	41 mm	304 g	235	n	Jul 2019	749
	Canon M100	108 mm	67 mm	35 mm	302 g	295	n	Aug 2017	499
	Canon SX730	110 mm	64 mm	40 mm	300 g	250	n	Apr 2017	399
	Canon SX420	104 mm	69 mm	85 mm	325 g	195	n	Jan 2016	299
	Canon SX720	110 mm	64 mm	36 mm	270 g	250	n	Feb 2016	379
	Canon G5 X	112 mm	76 mm	44 mm	353 g	210	n	Oct 2015	799
	Canon M3	111 mm	68 mm	44 mm	366 g	250	n	Feb 2015	679
	Canon SX410	104 mm	69 mm	85 mm	325 g	185	n	Feb 2015	279
	Canon SX710	113 mm	66 mm	35 mm	269 g	230	n	Jan 2015	349
	Canon G7 X	103 mm	60 mm	40 mm	304 g	210	n	Sep 2014	699
	Olympus E-PL9	117 mm	68 mm	39 mm	380 g	350	n	Feb 2018	599
	Olympus E-M10 III	122 mm	84 mm	50 mm	410 g	330	n	Aug 2017	649
	Olympus E-M10 II	120 mm	83 mm	47 mm	390 g	320	n	Aug 2015	649
	Olympus E-PL7	115 mm	67 mm	38 mm	357 g	350	n	Aug 2014	599
	Olympus E-PL6	111 mm	64 mm	38 mm	325 g	360	n	May 2013	599
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. 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.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors 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. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon G7 X Mark II features an one-inch sensor and the Olympus E-PL8 a Four Thirds sensor. The sensor area in the E-PL8 is 94 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 2.7 and 2.0. The sensor in the G7X Mark II has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the E-PL8 offers a 4:3 aspect.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the Canon G7 X Mark II offers a higher resolution of 20 megapixels, compared with 15.9 MP of the Olympus E-PL8. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 2.41μm versus 3.76μm for the E-PL8). Moreover, it should be noted that the E-PL8 is a somewhat more recent model (by 7 months) than the G7X Mark II, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units.

The resolution advantage of the Canon G7 X Mark II implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the G7X Mark II for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 27.4 x 18.2 inches or 69.5 x 46.3 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 21.9 x 14.6 inches or 55.6 x 37.1 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 18.2 x 12.2 inches or 46.3 x 30.9 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 Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II has a native sensitivity range from ISO 125 to ISO 12800, which can be extended to ISO 125-25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Olympus PEN E-PL8 are ISO 200 to ISO 6400, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-25600.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

	Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
	Canon G7 X Mark II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
	Olympus E-PL8	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	..	..	..	..
	Canon G7 X Mark III	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Canon M100	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.5	12.9	1272	78
	Canon SX730	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
	Canon SX420	1/2.3	19.9	5152	3864	720/25p	..	..	..	..
	Canon SX720	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
	Canon G5 X	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
	Canon M3	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/30p	22.8	11.8	1169	72
	Canon SX410	1/2.3	19.9	5152	3864	720/30p	..	..	..	..
	Canon SX710	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
	Canon G7 X	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	23.0	12.7	556	71
	Olympus E-PL9	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Olympus E-M10 III	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Olympus E-M10 II	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	23.1	12.5	842	73
	Olympus E-PL7	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	22.7	12.4	873	72
	Olympus E-PL6	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	..	..	..	..

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the G7X Mark II provides a higher frame rate than the E-PL8. It can shoot video footage at 1080/60p, while the Olympus is limited to 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The G7X Mark II and the E-PL8 are similar in the sense that neither of the two has a viewfinder. The images are, thus, framed using live view on the rear LCD. That said, the E-PL8 can be equipped with an optional viewfinder – the VF-4. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Canon G7 X Mark II and Olympus E-PL8 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

Core Features

	Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
	Canon G7 X Mark II	none	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	8.0	Y	Y
	Olympus E-PL8	optional	n	3.0	1037	tilting	Y	1/4000s	8.0	n	Y
	Canon G7 X Mark III	none	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	30	Y	Y
	Canon M100	none	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	6.1	Y	n
	Canon SX730	none	n	3.0	922	tilting	n	1/3200s	5.9	Y	Y
	Canon SX420	none	n	3.0	230	fixed	n	1/4000s	0.5	Y	Y
	Canon SX720	none	n	3.0	922	fixed	n	1/3200s	5.9	Y	Y
	Canon G5 X	2360	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/2000s	5.9	Y	Y
	Canon M3	optional	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	4.2	Y	n
	Canon SX410	none	n	3.0	230	fixed	n	1/4000s	0.5	Y	Y
	Canon SX710	none	n	3.0	922	fixed	n	1/3200s	6.0	Y	Y
	Canon G7 X	none	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	6.5	Y	Y
	Olympus E-PL9	none	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	8.6	Y	Y
	Olympus E-M10 III	2360	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	8.6	Y	Y
	Olympus E-M10 II	2360	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	8.0	Y	Y
	Olympus E-PL7	optional	n	3.0	1037	tilting	Y	1/4000s	8.0	n	Y
	Olympus E-PL6	optional	n	3.0	460	tilting	Y	1/4000s	8.0	n	Y

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The G7X Mark II has one, while the E-PL8 does not. While the built-in flash of the G7X Mark II is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The Canon G7 X Mark II and the Olympus E-PL8 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 G7X Mark II and the E-PL8 write their files to SDXC cards. 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 Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II and Olympus PEN E-PL8 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

	Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
	Canon G7 X Mark II	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Olympus E-PL8	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
	Canon G7 X Mark III	-	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
	Canon M100	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
	Canon SX730	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
	Canon SX420	-	mono	mono	-	-	-	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Canon SX720	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Canon G5 X	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Canon M3	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Canon SX410	-	stereo	mono	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
	Canon SX710	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Canon G7 X	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Olympus E-PL9	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
	Olympus E-M10 III	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
	Olympus E-M10 II	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
	Olympus E-PL7	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
	Olympus E-PL6	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-

It is notable that the E-PL8 has a hotshoe, which makes it possible to easily attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun. The G7X Mark II does not feature such an accessory-socket.

Both the G7X Mark II and the E-PL8 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on eBay. The G7X Mark II was replaced by the Canon G7 X Mark III, while the E-PL8 was followed by the Olympus E-PL9. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon and Olympus websites.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Canon G7 X Mark II better than the Olympus E-PL8 or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Advantages of the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (20 vs 15.9MP) with a 14% higher linear resolution.
• Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (1080/60p versus 1080/30p).
• Ready to shoot: Has a lens built-in, whereas the E-PL8 requires a separate lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (106x61mm vs 115x67mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter even though it comes with a built-in lens (unlike the E-PL8).
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
• Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
• More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in February 2016).

Reasons to prefer the Olympus PEN E-PL8:

• Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced sensor.
• Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
• More framing options: Can be equipped with a hotshoe-mounted accessory-viewfinder.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/4000s vs 1/2000s) to freeze action.
• More flexible: Takes interchangeable lenses and can thus be used with specialty optics.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (350 versus 265) out of a single battery charge.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• More modern: Was introduced somewhat (7 months) more recently.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the E-PL8 comes out slightly ahead of the G7X Mark II (10 : 9 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision 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 Canon G7 X Mark II and the Olympus E-PL8 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Travel-Zoom Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens 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 G7X Mark II or the E-PL8. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, and photographyblog). 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.

Review Scores

	Camera Model	camera   labs	dp review	ephoto   zine	imaging resource	photography   blog	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
	Canon G7 X Mark II	+ +	81/100	4.5/5	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2016	699
	Olympus E-PL8	..	..	4.5/5	..	4/5	Sep 2016	549
	Canon G7 X Mark III	+ +	81/100	4/5	..	..	Jul 2019	749
	Canon M100	+	..	4/5	..	3.5/5	Aug 2017	499
	Canon SX730	+	..	4/5	..	4/5	Apr 2017	399
	Canon SX420	..	..	..	..	3/5	Jan 2016	299
	Canon SX720	+	..	4/5	..	4.5/5	Feb 2016	379
	Canon G5 X	+ +	78/100	4.5/5	4/5	4.5/5	Oct 2015	799
	Canon M3	o	75/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4/5	Feb 2015	679
	Canon SX410	o	..	..	..	..	Feb 2015	279
	Canon SX710	+	..	4/5	..	3.5/5	Jan 2015	349
	Canon G7 X	+ +	77/100	4.5/5	3.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2014	699
	Olympus E-PL9	+	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	4/5	Feb 2018	599
	Olympus E-M10 III	+	80/100	4.5/5	4/5	4.5/5	Aug 2017	649
	Olympus E-M10 II	+ +	80/100	5/5	5/5	5/5	Aug 2015	649
	Olympus E-PL7	+	..	5/5	4.5/5	4/5	Aug 2014	599
	Olympus E-PL6	..	..	..	..	..	May 2013	599
Notes: (+ +) 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. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, 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.

Other camera comparisons

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Specifications: Canon G7 X Mark II vs Olympus E-PL8

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.

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