Olympus FE-47 vs Panasonic Lumix G7: A Hands-On Dive Into Small Sensor Compact vs. Advanced Mirrorless

When stepping into the world of digital cameras, the choices can feel as daunting as a safari in a lens jungle. Today, we bring two very different specimens head to head: the humble Olympus FE-47, a compact small-sensor shooter from the dawn of the decade, and the Panasonic Lumix G7, a far more modern and ambitious advanced mirrorless camera. Both claim to serve distinct photography genres and cater to different photographer profiles - but which one deserves a spot in your camera bag in 2024?

Having put thousands of cameras through real-world paces over the years (from bustling street corners to serene mountaintops), I’m excited to unpack these two with an eye for what really counts - image quality, performance, handling, and value. Buckle up for a detailed, playful, and deeply experienced ride.

Getting a Feel for the Cameras: Size, Build, and Control Layout

Before you even click a shutter, how a camera feels in your hands sets the tone. The Olympus FE-47 is a classic pocket-friendly compact - a tiny powerhouse designed to go anywhere without adding bulk. In contrast, the Panasonic G7 asserts a more serious stance with an SLR-style mirrorless body promising robust features.

Judging by size alone, the Olympus’s diminutive dimensions (98x61x27 mm) and featherweight 204-gram mass make it ultra-portable. It’s perfect for slipping into a jacket pocket or clutching in one hand for casual snaps. The Panasonic G7, considerably larger at 125x86x77 mm and weighing 410 grams, demands a dedicated camera bag space but comes with the ergonomic benefits of SLR-style grips and more substantial control surfaces.

Looking down from above, the Olympus opts for minimalism - few buttons and no dedicated dials for shutter or aperture priority modes (spoiler: it doesn’t have those anyway). It’s straightforward for beginners but quickly reveals limitations for those wanting manual control. Conversely, the G7 sports an array of traditional dials and buttons for shutter speed, exposure compensation, and programmable functions - ideal for enthusiasts and professionals who appreciate tactile control without fumbling through menus.

All things considered, if you prize unobtrusive portability and pocketability, the Olympus wins hands down. But if you crave solid ergonomics and ready access to advanced controls, the Panasonic commands respect.

Sensor Showdown: Small Chip vs. Four Thirds Brilliance

At the heart of every camera’s image quality is the sensor. The Olympus FE-47 packs a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor measuring a mere 6.08x4.56 mm with 14 megapixels. The G7 boasts a much larger Four Thirds CMOS sensor at 17.3x13 mm and 16 megapixels.

The difference in sensor size here isn’t just academic - it deeply affects image quality, dynamic range, noise performance, and color depth. We know from years of side-by-side testing that larger sensors allow photons more room to breathe, translate into cleaner images at high ISOs, and render colors more accurately. The Panasonic’s Four Thirds sensor platform is a well-established compromise between full-frame and smaller sensors, offering respectable low-light performance and excellent resolution for its size.

The Olympus’s smaller sensor is a trade-off for its compact body and zoom capability but tends to struggle under challenging lighting, producing more noise and less dynamic range - especially above ISO 400. Additionally, it lacks RAW shooting support, meaning you’re stuck with less flexible JPEG files.

In practice, the Panasonic G7 delivers punchier, more vibrant images with finer detail and superior shadow recovery options. Its native ISO range extends up to 25600 (amazing for low-light flexibility), while the Olympus caps at ISO 1600, limiting its usefulness in dim environments.

Both cameras use anti-aliasing filters which smooth out moiré patterns but slightly dampen sharpness. That said, the G7’s newer CMOS tech and better image processor (a detail Olympus’s older TruePic III can’t compete with) gives it a significant edge in producing crisp photos with reduced noise.

The Viewfinder and Screen: Composing Your World

Composing your shot is where the magic begins and no photographer wants to squint or fight awkward screens to do it. How these two cameras approach live view differs drastically.

The Olympus sports a 2.7-inch fixed LCD with a low resolution of 230,000 pixels - adequate for casual framing but unimpressive for precise focus checking or reviewing detail. Without any touchscreen or articulation hinge, it restricts creativity in framing from odd angles.

Meanwhile, the Panasonic G7’s 3-inch fully articulating touchscreen dazzles with a much higher 1,040,000-pixel resolution and responsive touch controls that help with focus selection, menu navigation, or selfies - yes, it’s selfie-friendly. On the G7, the screen flips out and rotates 360 degrees so you can confidently shoot from waist-level or even overhead without sacrificing image preview quality.

Moreover, the G7 offers a high-resolution (2,360,000-dot) electronic viewfinder covering 100% of the frame with 0.7x magnification. For outdoor shooting in bright conditions or precise manual focus, this EVF is a huge usability booster compared to Olympus’s camera which offers nothing beyond the LCD.

Autofocus and Shooting Speeds: Capturing the Moment

A camera’s ability to swiftly and accurately lock focus while shooting burst sequences can make or break your experience, especially in wildlife or sports photography.

The Olympus FE-47 employs a contrast-detection AF system without face or eye detection, limited to single AF with a few selectable areas. It lacks continuous AF and tracking autofocus modes, meaning it might struggle with moving subjects. Continuous shooting modes are missing altogether, which further limits capturing action sequences.

The Panasonic G7 features a 49-point contrast-detection AF system with impressive add-ons like face detection, selective AF, tracking AF, and even eye detection. Thanks to a faster processor and more advanced algorithms, it can sustain 7 frames per second continuous shooting - substantial for amateur sports or wildlife photographers who want to freeze motion effectively.

As someone who’s chased fast birds and sprinting children, this spec difference isn’t small trivia - it dramatically impacts what you can capture. The Olympus is more suited for posed portraits or landscapes where subjects stay still. The Panasonic can track faces and maintain focus on erratic subjects better, expanding creative possibilities.

Lens Systems and Compatibility

One benefit the Olympus FE-47 offers is simplicity: a fixed 36-180 mm equiv. zoom with f/3.5-5.6 aperture. No lens changes, no extra glass cluttering your bag - but also no flexibility.

Conversely, the Panasonic G7 utilizes the Micro Four Thirds mount - a mature ecosystem boasting over 100 lenses from Panasonic, Olympus, Sigma, Tamron, etc. From ultra-wide-angle to super-telephoto, fast primes to versatile zooms, the options are vast, affordable, and cover all photography niches.

This flexibility means you can customize your G7 kit depending on project needs - from macro shots with sharp, close-up primes to wildlife telephotos with optical image stabilization.

Image Stabilization and Low-Light Performance

Olympus’s FE-47 lacks built-in image stabilization, which is a notable downside given its telephoto reach. This omission can tonally limit handheld shooting in low light or at the longer end of its zoom range without blur.

The Panasonic G7 also doesn’t feature in-body image stabilization, but many lenses available for its mount offer optical stabilization, giving you the possibility of steady shots. Plus, the camera’s superior high ISO capability means you can afford faster shutter speeds in dim conditions with less noise.

Video Capabilities: Modern Needs and Limitations

Although primarily a stills comparison, video is non-negotiable for versatile shooters today.

Olympus’ FE-47 shoots very basic VGA-resolution video (640x480 at 30fps) using the Motion JPEG codec - adequate for casual fun but severely limited in quality and editing flexibility.

Panasonic’s G7 takes video seriously, recording UHD 4K (3840x2160) at up to 30fps, Full HD at 60fps, and incorporates advanced video features like 4K Photo mode (extracting high-res still frames from video). It supports external microphones, a crucial feature for serious videographers seeking quality sound.

Battery Life, Connectivity, and Storage: Day-to-Day Usability

Olympus FE-47 runs on 2 AA batteries - a mixed blessing. While AAs are easy to come by anywhere, battery life varies wildly depending on the quality used, and power-hungry features like zoom and flash drain them quickly. Storage options include SD/SDHC cards plus internal memory, limiting your shoot volume.

Panasonic G7 uses a rechargeable proprietary battery pack rated for roughly 350 shots per charge - a reasonable figure for fieldwork, but you’ll want spares on longer trips. Storage supports SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards, allowing higher capacities and faster write speeds - beneficial for 4K video.

Connectivity-wise, the FE-47 offers none - no wireless, no HDMI, no NFC - typical for its time. The Panasonic G7, however, has built-in Wi-Fi for easy image transfer and remote control, as well as HDMI output for video monitoring - features that add professional flexibility.

Real-World Photography Tests and Sample Images

Let’s talk about the proof in the pixels. Shooting a variety of genres side by side revealed stark differences.

Olympus FE 47 front Olympus FE 47 screen back Panasonic G7 front Panasonic G7 screen back

Portraits: The FE-47’s small sensor yields softer bokeh and less flattering skin tones, with limited ability to isolate subjects. The G7’s larger sensor and lens options permit shallow depth of field, smooth subject separation, and accurate skin rendering. Plus, face and eye AF offer great usability.

Landscapes: Olympus images are oversaturated and prone to blooming in highlights with limited dynamic range. Panasonic captures richer shadow detail with more natural color gradations, yielding punchier landscapes.

Wildlife and Sports: The FE-47 struggles with focus locking and speed, making it a poor choice for moving subjects. The Panasonic’s burst rates and AF tracking offered snappier results, capturing moments missed by the smaller camera.

Street: The Olympus excelled in discretion due to size and weight, while the G7’s bulkier body sometimes drew curious glances but rewarded with image quality and flexibility.

Macro and Night: Neither camera is specialized here, but the G7, with manual focus and better ISO options, has a clear advantage.

Putting It All in Context: Who Should Buy What?

Olympus FE-47

• Best for: Casual users wanting an ultra-compact, quick-snap camera for daylight travel and family events without fuss.
• Strengths: Pocketability, simple controls, decent zoom without lens swaps, low cost (often found secondhand).
• Weaknesses: Limited sensor size constrains image quality, no RAW, no video utility beyond basic, no manual controls.
• Who to avoid: Enthusiasts or professionals needing creative control, low-light performance, or fast autofocus.

Panasonic Lumix G7

• Best for: Photography enthusiasts, content creators, and semi-professionals wanting a versatile mirrorless camera for stills and 4K video across all genres.
• Strengths: Larger sensor, advanced autofocus, articulating touch screen, extensive lens ecosystem, solid video features.
• Weaknesses: Lacks in-body image stabilization, somewhat bulky for mirrorless, moderate battery life.
• Who to avoid: Ultra-minimalists who prioritize size and simplicity above all else.

In Conclusion: Evolution or Tradition?

Comparing the Olympus FE-47 and Panasonic Lumix G7 is like contrasting a simple point-and-shoot bicycle with a high-performance sports motorcycle. The Olympus FE-47 carved its niche as a compact, unpretentious, and easy companion for casual photographers over a decade ago. The Panasonic Lumix G7 embraces the more demanding, creative, and hybrid-use shooter with features and flexibility that serve today’s multimedia storytellers.

For those who cherish simplicity, carry weight, and immediate point-and-shoot ease, the Olympus still has sentimental and practical appeal - especially as a travel backup or secondary camera. For anyone serious about meaningful image quality, control, and future-proofing their gear, the Panasonic G7 offers a remarkable value in the advanced mirrorless segment, even years after its debut.

Whichever path you take, remember: the best camera is the one that complements your vision and invites you to explore without limits.

If you want to geek out on specs or dig deeper into techniques for each shooting genre covered here, just holler!