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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony NEX-7

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-7 front
Portability
84
Imaging
64
Features
71
Overall
66

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony NEX-7 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL3
Sony NEX-7
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 400g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
  • Revealed December 2011
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony NEX-7 Overview

Below is a comprehensive comparison of the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony NEX-7, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and NEX-7 (24MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and NEX-7 (APS-C) have different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL2 was revealed 10 months earlier than the NEX-7 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise summary of how the E-PL2 matches up against the NEX-7 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Sony NEX-7

 E-PL2 NEX-7 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-7 over the Olympus E-PL2

 NEX-7 E-PL2 
RevealedDecember 2011February 2011More recent by 10 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony NEX-7

 E-PL2 NEX-7 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony NEX-7 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL2 comes with external measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-7 has proportions of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony NEX-7 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the E-PL2 versus the NEX-7.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony NEX-7 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL2 and NEX-7 is 85 and 84 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony NEX-7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony NEX-7 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's tough to imagine the gap between sensor measurements only by checking technical specs. The photograph below will give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL2 and NEX-7.

As you have seen, both of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL2 with its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF tougher and the Sony NEX-7 will give extra detail because of its extra 12MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The older E-PL2 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony NEX-7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-7 Portrait photography features
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
78
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detection focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography factors
Sony NEX-7 Street photography factors
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen does not articulate
76
screen tilts
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-7 as a Sports photography camera
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery life (280 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
62
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good battery power (430 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography information
Sony NEX-7 Travel photography information
51
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse function
not so great battery life (280 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
70
good battery power (430 per charge)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL2
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-7
61
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
not so great battery life (280 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
72
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (430 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-7 as a Vlogging camera
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone socket
35
comes with face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic socket
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony NEX-7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Sony NEX-7
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Sony Alpha NEX-7
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL2 Sony Alpha NEX-7
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced 2011-02-11 2011-12-13
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 6400 16000
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 362g (0.80 pounds) 400g (0.88 pounds)
Physical dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 81
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 24.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.2 13.4
DXO Low light rating 573 1016
Other
Battery life 280 photos 430 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 or 5 images))
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $0 $699