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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FS7

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS7 front
Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FS7 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Announced May 2010
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL1s
Panasonic FS7
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 139g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Launched January 2009
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FS7 Overview

Below is a detailed overview of the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic FS7, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Ultracompact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the FS7 (10MP) is very well matched but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and FS7 (1/2.5") come with different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL1 was launched 17 months later than the FS7 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FS7 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving through a complete comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the E-PL1 matches up versus the FS7 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Panasonic FS7

 E-PL1 FS7 
LaunchedMay 2010January 2009More recent by 17 months
Manual focus More accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS7 over the Olympus E-PL1

 FS7 E-PL1 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic FS7

 E-PL1 FS7 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension2.7"2.7"Identical display sizing
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FS7 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera, you are going to need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL1 provides outer measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Panasonic FS7 has proportions of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") with a weight of 139 grams (0.31 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic FS7 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you use during that time. Below is the front view size comparison of the E-PL1 vs the FS7.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FS7 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and FS7 is 86 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FS7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FS7 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to picture the contrast between sensor measurements only by looking at technical specs. The photograph below will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1 and FS7.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL1 featuring a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-PL1 will resolve extra detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more modern E-PL1 provides an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FS7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FS7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FS7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography info
Panasonic FS7 Portrait photography info
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
19
no manual focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL1
Street photography with Panasonic FS7
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
fixed screen
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL1
Sports photography with Panasonic FS7
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (290 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
low fps (3.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography features
Panasonic FS7 Travel photography features
51
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery pack (290 CIPA)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
51
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography info
Panasonic FS7 Landscape photography info
55
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (290 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse recording
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7")
no manual mode
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging details
Panasonic FS7 Vlogging details
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
does not feature selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic port
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic FS7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic FS7
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS7
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS7
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Announced 2010-05-17 2009-01-16
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.5"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 3200 1600
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 6.3
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
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) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334 gr (0.74 lbs) 139 gr (0.31 lbs)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 54 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 487 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 photos -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at release $288 $160