Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS7
86 Imaging
47 Features
43 Overall
45
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91 Imaging
35 Features
33 Overall
34
Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS7 Key Specs
(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
- Released May 2010
- Renewed by Olympus E-PL1s
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 80 - 6400
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
- 218g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
- Introduced July 2011
- Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ10
- Successor is Panasonic ZS8
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS7 Overview
In this article, we are looking at the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic ZS7, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the ZS7 (12MP) is very comparable but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and ZS7 (1/2.3") use different sensor sizing.
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The E-PL1 was announced 14 months earlier than the ZS7 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS7 being a Compact camera.
Before diving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a concise overview of how the E-PL1 matches up against the ZS7 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS7 Gallery
This is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PL1 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL1 Gallery & Panasonic ZS7 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Panasonic ZS7
E-PL1 | ZS7 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | Dial precise focus |
Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS7 over the Olympus E-PL1
ZS7 | E-PL1 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | July 2011 | ![]() | May 2010 | More modern by 14 months |
Display sizing | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Larger display (+0.3") |
Display resolution | 460k | ![]() | 230k | Crisper display (+230k dot) |
Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic ZS7
E-PL1 | ZS7 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither contains selfie screen | ||
Touch display | ![]() | Neither contains Touch display |
Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS7 Physical Comparison
When you are aiming to carry around your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL1 has got exterior measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS7 has measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs).
See the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic ZS7 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PL1 against the ZS7.
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Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1 and ZS7 is 86 and 91 respectively.
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS7 Sensor Comparison
Typically, its difficult to picture the contrast in sensor sizes purely by checking out technical specs. The picture here will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1 and ZS7.
As you have seen, both of the cameras offer the same exact megapixels but different sensor sizes. The E-PL1 provides the larger sensor which is going to make getting shallower depth of field simpler. The more aged E-PL1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS7 Screen and ViewFinder
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Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
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Street Comparison
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Sports Comparison
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Travel Comparison
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Landscape Comparison
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Vlogging Comparison
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS7 Specifications
Olympus PEN E-PL1 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand Name | Olympus | Panasonic |
Model | Olympus PEN E-PL1 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 |
Other name | - | Lumix DMC-TZ10 |
Type | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Small Sensor Superzoom |
Released | 2010-05-17 | 2011-07-19 |
Body design | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor Chip | Truepic V | Venus Engine HD II |
Sensor type | CMOS | CCD |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | 1/2.3" |
Sensor measurements | 17.3 x 13mm | 6.08 x 4.56mm |
Sensor area | 224.9mm² | 27.7mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12 megapixels | 12 megapixels |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Peak resolution | 4032 x 3024 | 4000 x 3000 |
Highest native ISO | 3200 | 6400 |
Lowest native ISO | 100 | 80 |
RAW format | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focus | ||
Autofocus touch | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Selective autofocus | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Autofocus live view | ||
Face detection autofocus | ||
Contract detection autofocus | ||
Phase detection autofocus | ||
Number of focus points | 11 | 11 |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | Micro Four Thirds | fixed lens |
Lens focal range | - | 25-300mm (12.0x) |
Max aperture | - | f/3.3-4.9 |
Macro focus range | - | 3cm |
Total lenses | 107 | - |
Focal length multiplier | 2.1 | 5.9 |
Screen | ||
Range of screen | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen sizing | 2.7 inches | 3 inches |
Screen resolution | 230k dot | 460k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch friendly | ||
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 speed | 3.0 frames per sec | 2.0 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Change white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash range | 10.00 m | 5.30 m |
Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro |
External flash | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Max flash sync | 1/160 seconds | - |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment exposure | ||
Average exposure | ||
Spot exposure | ||
Partial exposure | ||
AF area exposure | ||
Center weighted exposure | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) |
Highest video resolution | 1280x720 | 1280x720 |
Video data format | Motion JPEG | AVCHD Lite |
Microphone 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 | BuiltIn |
Physical | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 334 grams (0.74 lbs) | 218 grams (0.48 lbs) |
Dimensions | 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") | 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall score | 54 | not tested |
DXO Color Depth score | 21.5 | not tested |
DXO Dynamic range score | 10.1 | not tested |
DXO Low light score | 487 | not tested |
Other | ||
Battery life | 290 photographs | - |
Style of battery | Battery Pack | - |
Battery model | BLS-1 | - |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Storage media | SD/SDHC card | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal |
Storage slots | Single | Single |
Launch pricing | $288 | $350 |