CameraDecision
  • CAMERAS
    • All Cameras
    • Cameras by Brand
      • Sony Cameras
      • Canon Cameras
      • Nikon Cameras
      • Pentax Cameras
      • Fujifilm Cameras
      • Olympus Cameras
      • OM-System Cameras
      • Panasonic Cameras
      • Leica Cameras
    • Cameras by Body Type
      • Mirrorless Cameras
      • DSLR Cameras
      • Compact Cameras
      • Bridge Cameras
      • Waterproof Cameras
    • Cameras by Lens Mount
      • Sony E Mount Cameras
      • Canon RF Mount Cameras
      • Nikon Z Mount Cameras
      • Micro Four Thirds Mount Cameras
      • Fujifilm X Mount Cameras
      • Leica L Mount Cameras
      • Nikon F Mount Cameras
      • Canon EF Mount Cameras
      • Canon EF M Mount Cameras
      • Canon EF S Mount Cameras
      • Pentax KAF Mount Cameras
      • Sony Alpha Mount Cameras
      • Fujifilm G Mount Cameras
      • Sigma SA Mount Cameras
      • Nikon 1 Mount Cameras
  • LENSES
    • All Lenses
    • Lenses by Mount
      • Sony E Mount Lenses
      • Canon RF Mount Lenses
      • Nikon Z Mount Lenses
      • Canon EF Mount Lenses
      • Canon EF M Mount Lenses
      • Canon EF S Mount Lenses
      • Nikon F Mount Lenses
      • Fujifilm X Mount Lenses
      • Micro Four Thirds Mount Lenses
      • Leica L Mount Lenses
      • Pentax KAF Mount Lenses
      • Fujifilm G Mount Lenses
      • Sigma SA Mount Lenses
      • Sony Alpha Mount Lenses
    • Teleconverters
    • Cinema Lenses
      • Sony E Mount Cine Lenses
      • Canon RF Mount Cine Lenses
      • Nikon Z Mount Cine Lenses
      • Canon EF Mount Cine Lenses
      • Nikon F Mount Cine Lenses
      • ARRI PL Mount Cine Lenses
      • Fujifilm X Mount Cine Lenses
      • Micro Four Thirds Mount Cine Lenses
      • Leica L Mount Cine Lenses
  • TOOLS
    • Cameras
      • Smart Find
      • 1-on-1 Comparison
    • Lenses
      • Smart Find
      • 1-on-1 Comparison
  • BLOG

Olympus E-PL8 vs YI M1 Comparison

x
Camera to replace
Change

Olympus E-PL8

16 MP | Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) CMOS Sensor

Olympus E-PL8
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Change

YI M1

20 MP | Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) CMOS Sensor

YI M1
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Olympus E-PL8 vs YI M1 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing the E-PL8 and the M1, two Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras from Olympus and YI. Olympus E-PL8 was introduced to the market in September 2016 and YI M1 was launched in September 2016. Both E-PL8 and M1 were launched within the same month so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and available technology level.

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Olympus E-PL8 and YI M1 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Olympus E-PL8 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2016-09-19
  • 16MP - Four Thirds CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 200 - 25600 ( expands to 100)
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • 8.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 357g. 115 x 67 x 38 mm
  • Replaced Olympus PEN E-PL7 Compare

YI M1 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2016-09-19
  • 20MP - Four Thirds CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 5.0fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (DCI) - 4096 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 0g. 114 x 64 x 34 mm

Olympus E-PL8 was replaced by Olympus PEN E-PL8. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Olympus PEN E-PL8 vs Olympus PEN E-PL8
Olympus PEN E-PL8 vs YI M1

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Olympus E-PL8 and YI M1 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


Related Blog Posts

Top 10 Lightest Full-Frame Mirrorless Cameras in 2023
The Most Rented Compact Cameras in 2022
DPReview to Close
Daily Deals: Sirui Anamorphic Lens, Apple MacBook Air and more
100-400mm Lens Size Comparison: Leica vs Sony vs Canon vs Nikon
Sirui 24mm f2.8 Super35 Anamorphic 1.33x Lens %50 Off
Daily Deals: Sigma 12-24mm Lens, SmallRig Cage, LED Lights and more
DZOFilm 12-25mm T2.8 Pictor Parfocal Zoom Cinelens  Released


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Olympus PEN E-PL8 over YI M1
Live Composite Mode
Yes vs No Excellent help for long-exposure photography
In-built Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and slow shutter speeds
LCD Screen
Tilting vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
Continuous Shooting
8.0fps vs 5.0fps 3 fps faster
Sensor Pixel Area
14.12µm2 vs 11.16µm2 26% larger pixel area
AE Bracketing Range
±5 EV vs ±3 EV Wide Bracketing range is useful for HDR
CHECK E-PL8 PRICE


Reasons to choose YI M1 over Olympus PEN E-PL8
Sensor Resolution
20 MP vs 16 MP 25% more pixels
Battery Life
450 shots vs 350 shots 100 more frames with a single charge
Weight
0 g vs 357 g 357 g lighter
Max Video Resolution
4096 x 2160 vs 1920 x 1080 Higher Resolution Video
Bluetooth
Yes vs No Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth
CHECK M1 PRICE

Common Strengths of Olympus PEN E-PL8 and YI M1
Wireless Connection
Yes vs Yes Better connectivity
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Touch Screen
Yes vs Yes Easy control of camera functions
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
LCD Screen Resolution
1.037k dots vs 1.040k dots High resolution screens
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs Yes creative shooting
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs Yes Remote control your camera with a smartphone
Common Weaknesses of Olympus PEN E-PL8 and YI M1
Built-in Flash
No vs No Require external flash
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Olympus E-PL8 vs YI M1: Physical Specs and Body Features Comparison

Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, we are going to illustrate the Olympus E-PL8 and YI M1 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Olympus E-PL8 has external dimensions of 115 x 67 x 38 mm (4.53 x 2.64 x 1.5″) and weighs 357 g (0.79 lb / 12.59 oz) (including batteries). YI M1 has external dimensions of 114 x 64 x 34 mm (4.49 x 2.52 x 1.34″) and weighs 350 (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Olympus E-PL8 and the YI M1. YI M1 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 1mm narrower, 3mm shorter and 4mm thinner than Olympus E-PL8.

Olympus E-PL8 vs YI M1 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of the Olympus E-PL8 and the YI M1 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. YI M1 is 357g lighter than the Olympus E-PL8 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you also have to take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Olympus E-PL8 and YI M1 have the same Micro Four Thirds lens mount and Four Thirds sized sensors, lenses will not be a differentiator on total size of the system.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

E-PL8
M1
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

E-PL8
M1
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither the Olympus PEN E-PL8 nor YI M1 provides any type of weather sealing in their bodies, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Mirrorless Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Olympus E-PL8 and YI M1's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 3.00 inches.

On the other hand, Olympus E-PL8 features a Tilting screen where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over-the-head levels whereas the YI M1 has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to E-PL8.


Olympus E-PL8 vs YI M1: Sensor Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 has a 16.0MP Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features TruePic VII processor. On the other hand, YI M1 has a 20.0MP Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Below you can see the E-PL8 and M1 sensor size comparison.

Olympus E-PL8 vs YI M1 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Olympus E-PL8 and YI M1 Cameras


Olympus E-PL8 and YI M1 have the same sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture. On the other hand, since Olympus E-PL8 has 26% larger pixel area compared to YI M1, it has potential to collect more light on pixel level hence have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Olympus E-PL8 vs YI M1 Comparison of Available Lenses
Which camera has more lenses?

The number of available lenses is a big deciding factor when choosing your interchangeable lens camera. Olympus E-PL8 and YI M1 have the same Micro Four Thirds and have total of 121 lenses to choose from.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. Olympus E-PL8 has a big advantage in this regard because it has a sensor based image stabilization (IS) which means that all the lenses mounted to this body will be stabilized. E-PL8's built-in Image stabilization system is effective for compensating vibration up to 3.5-stops according to CIPA standards.
On the other hand, YI M1 doesn't have this feature so you have to buy a lens with optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 34 lenses for Micro Four Thirds mount with Optical Image Stabilization features.

Lens Type # of Olympus E-PL8 Lenses # of YI M1 Lenses
Standard Zoom 18 18
Standard Prime 15 15
Wideangle Zoom 6 6
Wideangle Prime 32 32
Telephoto Zoom 19 19
Telephoto Prime 11 11
SuperZoom 8 8
Wideangle Fisheye Prime 5 5
Macro Prime 5 5
Perspective Control Prime n/a n/a
Telephoto Mirror Prime 1 1
TOTAL 121 121

Here are some of the most popular Micro Four Thirds Mount Lenses on Camera Decision:

Popular Micro Four Thirds Mount Lenses for the E-PL8 and the M1
Model Coverage Weight Focusing Street Price
OM System 40-150mm F4.0 PRO Lens OM System 40-150mm F4.0 PRO
FourThirds 382gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Panasonic Lumix G 25mm F1.7 ASPH Lens Panasonic Lumix G 25mm F1.7 ASPH
FourThirds 125gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH Power OIS Lens Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH Power OIS
FourThirds 210gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS Lens Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS
FourThirds 1120gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 50-200mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power OIS Lens Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 50-200mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power OIS
FourThirds 655gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power OIS Lens Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power OIS
FourThirds 320gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm F4.0-6.3 ASPH Power OIS Lens Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm F4.0-6.3 ASPH Power OIS
FourThirds 985gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 EZ Lens Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 EZ
FourThirds 91gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
What types of Photography are Olympus E-PL8 and YI M1 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Olympus E-PL8 and YI M1 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Olympus E-PL8 for Portrait Photography

GOOD

YI M1 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Olympus E-PL8 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

YI M1 for Street Photography

AVERAGE
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Optional External Viewfinder
Medium sized Body
Read the details
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Medium sized Body
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Olympus E-PL8 for Sports Photography

GOOD

YI M1 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE
Image Stabilization
Fast Continuous Shooting: 8.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
81 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
81 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Olympus E-PL8 for Daily Photography

GOOD

YI M1 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Medium size Body
357g
Read the details
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
0g
Medium size Body
Read the details

Olympus E-PL8 for Landscape Photography

POOR

YI M1 for Landscape Photography

POOR
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Live-view
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Live-view
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Olympus E-PL8 vs YI M1: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far, but in case you wonder how we rated Olympus E-PL8 and YI M1, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Olympus E-PL8 and YI M1 scores compare:

Olympus E-PL8
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #38 out of 135 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #226 out of 1260 in all Cameras
YI M1
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #74 out of 135 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #355 out of 1260 in all Cameras

Olympus E-PL8 is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats YI M1 in all criteria except one: Portability. But the size difference between these cameras are negligible in real world so it is not a big disadvantage for Olympus E-PL8.

Olympus E-PL8
Olympus E-PL8
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

YI M1
YI M1
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

YI M1 vs Olympus E-PL8 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Olympus PEN E-PL8 YI M1
Brand Olympus YI
Announced 2016-09-19 2016-09-19
Body Type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Dimensions 17.3 x 13 mm 17.3 x 13 mm
Area 224.90mm2 224.90mm2
Megapixels 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Max Resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Max Native Light sensitivity 25,600 ISO 25,600 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 200 ISO 100 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity 100 ISO -
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 81 81
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of Available Lenses 121 121
Screen
Type Tilting Fixed type
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 1,037k dots 1,040k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/4000s 1/4000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Sensor-shift No
Built-in Flash
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 8.0 fps 5.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 4096 x 2160
Video Formats H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 357g 0g
Dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm 114 x 64 x 34mm
Battery Life 350 shots 450 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
Report a correction Report a correction


FOLLOW US


Most Popular Cameras
Sony A7 IV
33 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Sony A7R IV
61 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Canon R3
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Canon M50 II
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Canon EF-M Mount
Nikon Z9
46 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Fujifilm X-T30 II
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Fujifilm GFX 100
102 MP | Medium format Sensor | Fujifilm G Mount
Nikon Z5
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Latest Cameras
Sony ZV-E1
12 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Canon R50
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Canon R8
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Panasonic S5 II X
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Leica L Mount
Panasonic S5 II
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Leica L Mount
Pentax KF
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Pentax KAF2 Mount
Fujifilm X-T5
40 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Canon R6 II
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Copyright © 2023 by CameraDecision
Privacy About Contact Us SpeakerDecision

Report a Correction