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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic LX7

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 front
Portability
86
Imaging
35
Features
61
Overall
45

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic LX7 Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Launched July 2009
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-P2
Panasonic LX7
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400 (Boost to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-90mm (F1.4-2.3) lens
  • 298g - 111 x 68 x 46mm
  • Revealed October 2012
  • Older Model is Panasonic LX5
  • Successor is Panasonic LX10
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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic LX7 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic LX7, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-P1 (12MP) and the LX7 (10MP) is fairly close but the E-P1 (Four Thirds) and LX7 (1/1.7") enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The E-P1 was introduced 4 years earlier than the LX7 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LX7 being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a in depth comparison, below is a short overview of how the E-P1 matches up against the LX7 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Panasonic LX7

 E-P1 LX7 

Reasons to pick Panasonic LX7 over the Olympus E-P1

 LX7 E-P1 
RevealedOctober 2012July 2009Fresher by 39 months
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic LX7

 E-P1 LX7 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic LX7 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P1 offers outside dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") and a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) while the Panasonic LX7 has sizing of 111mm x 68mm x 46mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.8") with a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic LX7 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is the front view scale comparison of the E-P1 compared to the LX7.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic LX7 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-P1 and LX7 is 86 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic LX7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic LX7 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizing just by viewing technical specs. The visual below will help provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P1 and LX7.

As you can tell, both of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-P1 using its larger sensor is going to make getting bokeh easier and the Olympus E-P1 will result in more detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older E-P1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic LX7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic LX7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic LX7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography details
Panasonic LX7 Portrait photography details
60
focusing manually
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
supports RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
45
has manual focus
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW files
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Street photography details
Panasonic LX7 Street photography details
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
fixed screen
58
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
heavier than average (298 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic LX7 as a Sports photography camera
40
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (300 per charge)
lack of phase detect auto focus
42
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (330 per charge)
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-P1
Travel photography with Panasonic LX7
43
lack of Timelapse function
bad battery pack (300 CIPA)
low resolution (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
64
better than average battery power (330 per charge)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.4)
heavier than average (298 grams)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic LX7 as a Landscape photography camera
60
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (300 shots)
lack of Timelapse function
57
has manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.4)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (330 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Vlogging details
Panasonic LX7 Vlogging details
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone support
33
quite wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.4)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
does not have external mic port
heavier than average (298g)
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Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic LX7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic LX7
 Olympus PEN E-P1Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-P1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-07-29 2012-10-15
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic V Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Maximum boosted ISO - 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-90mm (3.8x)
Max aperture - f/1.4-2.3
Macro focus range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per sec 11.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 8.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 355 gr (0.78 lb) 298 gr (0.66 lb)
Dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 111 x 68 x 46mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 50
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 20.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 11.7
DXO Low light score 536 147
Other
Battery life 300 shots 330 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $182 $400