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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic SZ7

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 front
Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
41
Overall
38

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic SZ7 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Launched May 2010
  • New Model is Olympus E-PL1s
Panasonic SZ7
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 133g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Revealed January 2012
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic SZ7 Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic SZ7, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the SZ7 (14MP) is very well matched but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and SZ7 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL1 was introduced 20 months earlier than the SZ7 making them a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ7 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the E-PL1 matches up versus the SZ7 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Panasonic SZ7

 E-PL1 SZ7 
Manual focus More exact focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ7 over the Olympus E-PL1

 SZ7 E-PL1 
RevealedJanuary 2012May 2010More recent by 20 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic SZ7

 E-PL1 SZ7 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic SZ7 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1 comes with outer measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ7 has dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic SZ7 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at the time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL1 against the SZ7.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic SZ7 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1 and SZ7 is 86 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic SZ7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic SZ7 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to visualise the gap between sensor measurements only by looking at specifications. The photograph underneath might offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL1 and SZ7.

To sum up, the two cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PL1 having a larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Panasonic SZ7 will give extra detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics more aggressively. The older E-PL1 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic SZ7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic SZ7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic SZ7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic SZ7 as a Portrait photography camera
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
33
good MP (14MP)
includes face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography features
Panasonic SZ7 Street photography features
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (133g)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ7 as a Sports photography camera
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (290 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
includes tracking focus
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL1
Travel photography with Panasonic SZ7
51
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
terrible battery power (290 shots)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
70
lighter than competition in class (133g)
good MP (14MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
no Time Lapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic SZ7 Landscape photography highlights
55
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (290 shots)
lack of Time Lapse mode
42
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic SZ7 as a Vlogging camera
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic socket
35
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (133 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
no mic port
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic SZ7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic SZ7
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-05-17 2012-01-09
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing range - 4cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 5.60 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30fps), 640 x 480 (30 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334g (0.74 pounds) 133g (0.29 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photographs 220 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $288 $199