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Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL7

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL7 front
Portability
86
Imaging
53
Features
81
Overall
64

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL7 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 414g - 125 x 85 x 50mm
  • Launched October 2019
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-M5 II
  • Refreshed by OM System OM-5
Olympus E-PL7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Introduced September 2014
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL6
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL8
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL7 Overview

Below is a in-depth assessment of the Olympus E-M5 III and Olympus E-PL7, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are sold by Olympus. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the E-M5 III (20MP) and E-PL7 (16MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-M5 III was revealed 5 years later than the E-PL7 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-PL7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-M5 III grades against the E-PL7 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Olympus E-PL7

 E-M5 III E-PL7 
IntroducedOctober 2019September 2014More recent by 63 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k1037kCrisper display (+3k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL7 over the Olympus E-M5 III

 E-PL7 E-M5 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 III and Olympus E-PL7

 E-M5 III E-PL7 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Both good for selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL7 Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera, you have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-M5 III comes with outside dimensions of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") having a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) while the Olympus E-PL7 has specifications of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M5 III and Olympus E-PL7 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-M5 III compared to the E-PL7.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL7 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 III and E-PL7 is 80 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL7 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its difficult to envision the gap in sensor measurements only by checking out a spec sheet. The graphic here should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 III and E-PL7.

Clearly, both of those cameras come with the identical sensor size but not the same MP. You should anticipate the Olympus E-M5 III to produce more detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The newer E-M5 III is going to have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Portrait photography information
Olympus E-PL7 Portrait photography information
77
manual focus
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
exports RAW formats
71
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Street photography advice
Olympus E-PL7 Street photography advice
83
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
has focus by touch
environment proofing
good high ISO (25,600)
84
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
provides touch focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M5 III
Sports photography with Olympus E-PL7
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
quiet shutter (1/32,000s)
high max fps (30.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
environment proofing
has phase detect auto focus
low battery power (310 CIPA)
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Travel photography advice
Olympus E-PL7 Travel photography advice
77
environment proofing
has bluetooth
has focus by touch
good MP (20MP)
selfie friendly screen
low battery power (310 shots)
85
provides touch focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-PL7 as a Landscape photography camera
77
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
low battery power (310 per charge)
79
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Vlogging details
Olympus E-PL7 Vlogging details
84
selfie friendly screen
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect focus
high quality video (4096 x 2160 pixels)
has mic jack
78
screen is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have mic socket
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Olympus E-PL7
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIOlympus PEN E-PL7
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Olympus PEN E-PL7
Category Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2019-10-17 2014-09-01
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VIII TruePic VII
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Lowest boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 121 81
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,040k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/32000 seconds -
Continuous shooting rate 30.0 frames per second 8.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 414 grams (0.91 pounds) 357 grams (0.79 pounds)
Physical dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 72
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 873
Other
Battery life 310 shots 350 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 BLS-50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots One One
Price at launch $1,199 $499