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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax Q7

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Pentax Q7 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
54
Overall
43

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax Q7 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
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL1s
Pentax Q7
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 34mm
  • Revealed August 2013
  • Replaced the Pentax Q10
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax Q7 Overview

Below is a detailed analysis of the Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax Q7, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by companies Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the Q7 (12MP) is very close but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and Q7 (1/1.7") posses different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL1 was manufactured 4 years prior to the Q7 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving right into a full comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the E-PL1 scores versus the Q7 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Pentax Q7

 E-PL1 Q7 

Reasons to pick Pentax Q7 over the Olympus E-PL1

 Q7 E-PL1 
RevealedAugust 2013May 2010More recent by 39 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax Q7

 E-PL1 Q7 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax Q7 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1 features physical measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Pentax Q7 has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax Q7 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Here is a front view size comparison of the E-PL1 versus the Q7.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax Q7 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and Q7 is 86 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax Q7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax Q7 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to picture the difference in sensor measurements simply by researching a spec sheet. The visual underneath might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL1 and Q7.

Clearly, both of those cameras provide the same megapixels but different sensor measurements. The E-PL1 uses the larger sensor which should make getting shallow DOF easier. The older E-PL1 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax Q7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax Q7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax Q7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography advice
Pentax Q7 Portrait photography advice
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
48
manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
comes with face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography features
Pentax Q7 Street photography features
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen does not articulate
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition (200 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography highlights
Pentax Q7 Sports photography highlights
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12MP)
not so great battery pack (290 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
32
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with tracking focus
slow fps (5.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
terrible battery (250 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography advice
Pentax Q7 Travel photography advice
51
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (290 CIPA)
MP count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
60
lighter than competition (200g)
has built in flash
terrible battery (250 shots)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL1
Landscape photography with Pentax Q7
55
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
small screen (2.7 inch)
MP count low (12MP)
not so great battery pack (290 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse mode
55
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
terrible battery (250 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL1
Vlogging with Pentax Q7
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic port
35
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (200g)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
missing microphone support
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Pentax Q7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Pentax Q7
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Pentax Q7
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Pentax Q7
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2010-05-17 2013-08-08
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax Q
Total lenses 107 8
Crop factor 2.1 4.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT color LCD monitor, wide angle viewing, AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 4.90 m (ISO100/m)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) P-TTL, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160s 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) FullHD(1920x1080, 30fps/25fps/24fps), HD(1280x720,16:9,30fps/25fps/24fps), VGA(640x480,4:3,30fps/25fps/24fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 grams (0.74 pounds) 200 grams (0.44 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 102 x 58 x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 250 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (12 sec, 2 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD, SDHC, SDXC and Eye-Fi Card
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $288 $480