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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX7V

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX7V 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
  • Released February 2011
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL3
Sony HX7V
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 208g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Introduced July 2011
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX7V Overview

Below, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-PL2 versus Sony HX7V, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and HX7V (16MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and HX7V (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL2 was launched 5 months prior to the HX7V so they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX7V being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a more detailed comparison, below is a simple overview of how the E-PL2 grades versus the HX7V with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Sony HX7V

 E-PL2 HX7V 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Sony HX7V over the Olympus E-PL2

 HX7V E-PL2 
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony HX7V

 E-PL2 HX7V 
IntroducedFebruary 2011July 2011Same age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX7V Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL2 features physical dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) and the Sony HX7V has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL2 versus Sony HX7V in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PL2 versus the HX7V.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX7V size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL2 and HX7V is 85 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX7V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX7V Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to see the gap in sensor sizes only by checking out specs. The pic here might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL2 and HX7V.

All in all, both of these cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL2 featuring a bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh simpler and the Sony HX7V will produce extra detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures much more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX7V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX7V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX7V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography info
Sony HX7V Portrait photography info
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
exports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
30
megapixel count decent (16MP)
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography advice
Sony HX7V Street photography advice
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen does not articulate
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Sports photography factors
Sony HX7V Sports photography factors
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
max fps very slow (3.0 fps)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
low battery power (280 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
39
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography advice
Sony HX7V Travel photography advice
51
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse recording
low battery power (280 shots)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
67
megapixel count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography info
Sony HX7V Landscape photography info
61
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
low battery power (280 shots)
missing Time Lapse recording
42
reasonably wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging highlights
Sony HX7V Vlogging highlights
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic socket
32
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone port
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX7V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Sony HX7V
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-02-11 2011-07-19
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
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 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating XtraFine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 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 -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m 4.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 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 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 362 gr (0.80 lb) 208 gr (0.46 lb)
Dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 280 images -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $0 $499