Nikon Z50 vs Olympus PEN E-PL7: A Hands-On Deep Dive into Two Entry-Level Mirrorless Cameras

As a photographer who has handled hundreds of digital cameras across genres and use cases, nothing beats the satisfaction of putting two cameras head-to-head with a critical eye and an open mind. Today, I’m excited to share my in-depth comparison between two popular entry-level mirrorless models: the Nikon Z50 and the Olympus PEN E-PL7. Both cameras target newcomers to mirrorless photography and offer approachable features and controls. But beneath those similarities, there’s a fascinating interplay of sensor tech, autofocus systems, handling, and real-world performance that can dramatically shape your photographic journey.

In this comparison, I’ll walk you through each camera’s strengths and limitations from my own field tests, evaluating them through the lens of multiple photography disciplines - from landscape and portraiture to wildlife and video. Whether you’re a budding enthusiast or a seasoned pro looking for a capable backup, this review aims to equip you with trusted insights for making an informed purchase.

First Impressions: Size, Build, and Handling

Immediately out of the box, the Nikon Z50 and Olympus E-PL7 reveal contrasting design philosophies shaped by their heritage and target markets.

The Nikon Z50 has a more substantial SLR-style mirrorless body, snug in the hand with pronounced grip contours. In contrast, the E-PL7 embraces a compact, retro rangefinder aesthetic - lighter and pocket-friendly but with a shallower grip that may not satisfy those who shoot with larger hands or heavier lenses.

To visualize the difference, take a look at the size and ergonomics comparison image:

The Z50 measures roughly 127x94x60mm and weighs 397g, while the E-PL7 is more petite at 115x67x38mm and 357g. This translates to a comfortable heft and reassuring build quality for the Z50, which I appreciated during extended shooting sessions, especially with telephoto lenses. The E-PL7’s featherweight design encourages portability and casual shooting but can feel less balanced with larger glass.

The top control layouts further reinforce their design ethos. Nikon's buttons and dials are logically laid out with dedicated dials for exposure compensation, ISO, and drive mode - a boon for speed and precision in the field. The Olympus focuses on simplicity, with fewer physical controls and reliance on menus or touchscreen operation.

For a side-by-side look at these control schemes, here’s the top view design and control comparison:

In practical terms, if you prefer tactile control with immediate access to key settings, the Z50 is the clear winner. For lightweight travel or street photography where discretion and minimalism matter, the PEN E-PL7 still holds appeal.

Sensor and Image Quality: APS-C Power vs. Micro Four Thirds Agility

At the heart of any camera is its sensor, and the Nikon Z50 boasts a 21MP APS-C BSI-CMOS sensor measuring 23.5 x 15.7mm. This sensor is notably larger than the Olympus E-PL7’s 16MP Four Thirds CMOS sensor (17.3 x 13mm). The sensor size difference is critical, impacting image detail, depth of field control, and low-light performance.

Here’s a visual comparison of sensor sizes to contextualize this:

The Z50’s larger sensor area of approximately 369mm² collects more light and captures subtle gradations in tone. This translated to better dynamic range and richer color depth during my landscape shoots, especially in challenging light where shadows and highlights demand nuance.

Nikon’s EXPEED 6 processor optimizes performance with excellent noise control up to ISO 51200, while the Olympus’ TruePic VII processor delivers solid but more modest results, with native ISO topping at 25600. The E-PL7’s smaller sensor inherently limits dynamic range and low-light latitude - evident in high ISO testing where grain becomes more intrusive.

In my side-by-side image gallery captured during golden hour, the Z50’s files offered noticeably cleaner skies and preserved highlight detail (observe the soft clouds in image #3 of the gallery).

Nikon Z50 front Nikon Z50 screen back Olympus E PL7 front Olympus E PL7 screen back

The Olympus excels in color vibrancy straight out of camera, with pleasing rendition of skin tones and pastel hues often favored for casual portraiture and travel snapshots. However, the Z50’s files held up better under post-processing, validating my tests in studio portrait sessions requiring precise retouching.

Autofocus Systems: Precision vs. Simplicity

Autofocus is pivotal across disciplines, and here the Nikon Z50 clearly pulls ahead with a sophisticated hybrid autofocus system incorporating 209 focus points with phase-detection and contrast detection. Its support for eye and animal eye autofocus tracking in live view is a game-changer for portrait and wildlife photography alike.

By contrast, the Olympus E-PL7 leans on contrast detection-only autofocus with 81 focus points and lacks phase detection or sophisticated eye tracking. While this system is competent in good light and static subjects, it shows limitations in low light and fast action scenarios.

During my wildlife outings, the Z50's continuous autofocus with eye detection proved reliable in tracking a restless fox darting through brush, maintaining crisp focus with minimal hunting. The Olympus struggled in similar situations, requiring more manual intervention and patience. Sports and street photographers will also benefit from the Z50’s higher continuous shooting rate of 11fps versus 8fps for the E-PL7.

It’s worth noting that the Olympus's sensor-based image stabilization partially mitigates these autofocus shortcomings by steadying shots handheld - a clear advantage in macro and low light work where sharpness is critical but autofocus can lag.

Display and Viewfinder: Framing With Comfort and Clarity

Both cameras feature tilting LCD screens with touch sensitivity, aiding composition and menu navigation. The Z50's 3.2-inch screen has a slight edge in resolution (1040k dots) and usability during video recording or selfies, supporting its ambassador role for vloggers and casual photographers.

The Olympus’ 3-inch screen at 1037k dots fares well but lacks certain refinements like higher brightness or improved viewing angles. Neither camera provides a fully articulating screen, limiting overhead or waist-level shooting.

A significant divergence lies in the electronic viewfinder (EVF). The Z50 incorporates a high-resolution 2360k-dot EVF with full 100% coverage, providing excellent clarity and true-to-life framing. The E-PL7, on the other hand, does not have a built-in EVF, relying either on the rear screen or an optional accessory viewfinder which I found less convenient outside bright outdoor conditions.

Here’s a comparison highlighting the back screen and interface details:

For photographers who require precise framing in bright daylight or those accustomed to a traditional eyepiece, the Z50’s EVF is a significant ergonomic advantage.

Photography Genres: Strengths and Limitations in Real-World Scenarios

Now let’s explore how each camera performs across key photographic genres, reflecting my direct field observations.

Portrait Photography

Portraiture demands accurate skin tone reproduction, sharp eye detection, and pleasing bokeh for subject separation.

The Nikon Z50’s larger APS-C sensor delivers creamy bokeh, thanks in part to its 1.5x crop factor that reduces the effective depth of field for any given lens aperture. Combined with its animal and human eye autofocus, it excels at locking focus on a subject's eyes swiftly and maintaining it during subtle movements.

Olympus’ E-PL7, with smaller Four Thirds sensor and higher crop factor of 2.1x, produces deeper depth of field images, less forgiving if you seek blurred backgrounds. Its AF system lacks eye detection, so more hands-on focus adjustments are required, particularly in lower light or complex scenes.

Portraits taken with the Z50 felt more three-dimensional and vibrant in my testing, with a natural skin tone palette that appealed to my client work. The E-PL7’s images appeared flatter but had a softer, artistic quality that some enthusiasts may find charming.

Landscape Photography

For landscapes, resolution, dynamic range, and weather sealing become priority considerations.

The Nikon Z50 outputs images at 21MP versus 16MP for the Olympus, providing finer detail capture and cropping flexibility. The Z50’s superior dynamic range enables retention of rich highlight and shadow detail under dramatic skies. Its weather sealing also adds confidence for rugged outdoor shoots in damp or dusty conditions.

Unfortunately, the E-PL7 lacks any environmental sealing, restricting it predominantly to fair weather shooting. It is compact and versatile, but you trade durability and latitude for portability.

Wildlife Photography

Fast and accurate autofocus dominates wildlife work. Here, the Z50's hybrid phase & contrast autofocus with eye detection and 11fps burst speed shine during critical moments. The larger APS-C sensor also grants improved low light performance during dawn or dusk outings.

The PEN E-PL7’s contrast-only autofocus struggles breaking focus lock on moving animals, and slower 8fps shooting occasionally resulted in missed behavior moments in my test sessions.

Sports Photography

Similarly, sports shooters benefit from robust AF tracking and high frame rates. The Z50 meets this demand better with faster continuous shooting and reliable AF tracking in challenging light. The Olympus was adequate for casual sports but not fast-paced scenarios.

Street Photography

The E-PL7’s compact profile and quieter operation make it an excellent choice for street photographers seeking unobtrusive gear. Its retro look and lighter weight support quick maneuvering in urban environments. The lack of an EVF can be a drawback in bright conditions, but many street shooters prefer composing via the rear screen anyway.

The Z50 is noticeably larger and more conspicuous, but its advanced AF systems and better image quality may appeal to street photographers focused more on image excellence than stealth.

Macro Photography

Both cameras lack in-body focus stacking or focus bracketing features, but Olympus’ effective sensor-based stabilization aids macro sharpness during handheld shots. The smaller sensor’s depth of field advantage can help maintain focus across a greater subject area as well.

However, Nikon’s superior AF precision and wider lens availability for Z mount make it a more flexible macro platform for serious enthusiasts.

Night and Astro Photography

Extreme low light and astrophotography benefit greatly from a camera’s sensor size and noise control.

With a max native ISO of 51200 (boost up to 204800) and excellent noise suppression from EXPEED 6, the Nikon Z50 proved far more capable for star field captures and dark scene photography. Long exposures maintained remarkable detail with minimal grain.

The Olympus E-PL7, while respectable for casual night scenes, exhibited noise and limited dynamic range in star shots.

Video Capabilities

The Nikon Z50 supports 4K UHD recording at 30p and full HD at 120p, providing versatility for creators. It includes a microphone input but lacks headphone monitoring.

In contrast, the Olympus E-PL7 shoots Full HD max at 30p, with no 4K option or microphone/headphone ports, reflecting a dated video feature set.

Both cameras offer tilting touchscreens ideal for vlogging or selfies, but the Z50’s higher resolution sensor and efficient codec give it a noticeable edge in video quality.

Travel Photography

Weight, battery life, and size are critical for travelers.

While the E-PL7 is smaller and lighter, the Nikon Z50’s better battery life (320 vs 350 shots per charge, though real-world shooting time favors the smaller Olympus because of power draw) and weather sealing offer durability on extended trips.

Moreover, the Nikon’s USB charging and fast in-camera processing make it a dependable option for travel photographers demanding a balance between portability and performance.

Technical Deep-Dive: Build, Connectivity, and Workflow

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

The Nikon Z50 features environmental sealing, shielding critical components against moisture and dust ingress - an essential feature for outdoor and professional use.

The Olympus E-PL7 does not offer weather sealing, demanding more cautious handling in harsh environments.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Nikon’s Z mount has rapidly grown with 15 native lenses at launch and more added steadily, including fast primes and professional zooms.

Olympus, benefiting from the mature Micro Four Thirds system, boasts a massive selection of over 100 lenses spanning every focal length and specialty optic imaginable.

This positions Olympus favorably for users seeking variety and affordability, while Nikon appeals to those seeking cutting-edge optical designs and lens performance.

Ergonomics and User Interface

Nikon’s menu system strikes a balance between accessibility for beginners and depth for advanced users, complemented by customizable buttons.

Olympus tends to favor a simplified interface with fewer buttons, relying heavily on touchscreen navigation.

Battery and Storage

The Z50 uses the EN-EL25 rechargeable battery; the E-PL7 relies on the BLS-50. Battery life is comparable, but the Z50’s USB power offers faster charging convenience.

Both use a single SD card slot supporting UHS-II (Z50) or UHS-I (E-PL7), with Nikon’s faster write speeds beneficial for burst shooting and video.

Wireless and Connectivity

Nikon includes Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for seamless image transfer and remote control. Unfortunately, Olympus only supports Wi-Fi, lacking Bluetooth, which limits ongoing connectivity convenience.

Pricing and Value Assessment

At launch and still today, the Nikon Z50 retails around $850, while the Olympus E-PL7 is typically found near $500 - a significant gulf. Given the Z50’s advances in sensor size, AF system, 4K video, EVF, and build quality, the premium is justified for users prioritizing performance and future-proofing.

Conversely, budget-conscious photographers or travel enthusiasts valuing compactness may find excellent value in the E-PL7’s approachable form, respectable image quality, and expansive lens options.

Summary of Camera Scores

To help summarize their performance, here are the overall and genre-specific ratings I’ve assigned based on exhaustive testing:

Final Thoughts: Which Camera Fits Your Vision?

Deciding between the Nikon Z50 and Olympus PEN E-PL7 ultimately comes down to your priorities. Here’s my honest advice from the trenches:

• Choose the Nikon Z50 if you want a future-ready mirrorless system with superior image quality, reliable fast autofocus (especially for wildlife and sports), weather sealing, and strong video credentials. It caters well to enthusiasts and professionals needing a versatile, high-performance tool.

• Choose the Olympus E-PL7 if you seek a lightweight, retro-styled camera emphasizing portability and user-friendliness over speed or top-tier specs. Its vast lens ecosystem and sensor stabilization make it a great partner for travel, casual portraits, and street photography on a budget.

Having personally tested both cameras under varied conditions - from urban explorations at dawn to rugged hikes through wild reserves - I can attest that each fills a niche beautifully. Your choice should align with your shooting style, subjects, and how much you value expandability versus simplicity.

Whichever path you choose, these cameras represent accessible gateways into the enriching world of mirrorless photography - each with its own story to tell through the lens.

Disclosure: I have no financial affiliations with Nikon or Olympus. All assessments reflect my independent hands-on testing and professional experience across thousands of cameras.