Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-G80 — Which Is Better?

The Olympus PEN-F and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G80 are 2016 mirrorless cameras sharing the Micro Four Thirds mount, so they draw on the same native lens library and accept each other's lenses without an adapter.

The bodies differ in shape. The PEN-F measures 125 x 72 x 37 mm at 427 g, while the larger G80 is 128 x 89 x 74 mm at 505 g. The PEN-F's slimmer profile suits a small street-photography bag.

The PEN-F is the stronger choice for heavy cropping and large prints, with 20.3 megapixels against 16 on the G80, a 21.2 percent advantage in pixel count. Cropping a distant bird or tightening a group composition leaves more pixels behind.

The PEN-F also has a broader autofocus array, 81 points versus 49, giving more freedom to place focus off-centre when tracking moving subjects. Its 10 fps burst edges the G80's 9 fps for action. Both have in-body stabilisation for hand-holding slower shutter speeds with any Micro Four Thirds lens.

The G80 is the camera to buy if 4K footage matters: it records up to 4K, while the PEN-F tops out at Full HD. Whether you want sharper delivery today or room to crop and reframe a clip in editing, the Panasonic's extra resolution gives you that flexibility.

The PEN-F is the better pick for photographers who film only occasionally. Its maximum video frame rate reaches 60 fps, twice the G80's 30 fps, which suits smoother motion and slow-motion playback, and it offers built-in timelapse recording the G80 lacks.

Weather sealing is the G80's clearest advantage: it has sealing and the PEN-F does not, a benefit for outdoor photography. The G80 also has a built-in flash for fill light, which the PEN-F omits, though both support external flash units.

The rear screens are a similarity: each is a 3-inch touch LCD that flips out for waist-level and high-angle shots. Both offer Wi-Fi for transfer and remote control, and neither has GPS or Bluetooth.

Storage and charging are shared ground here. Each camera writes to a single SD, SDHC or SDXC card slot, so there is no second slot for overflow or backup, and neither charges over USB. Pack a charger and a spare battery for long days.

Battery life matches as well: both are rated at 330 shots under their standard test conditions. The batteries differ in type, with a BLN-1 pack in the PEN-F.