Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-7

Below is a extensive assessment of the Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-7, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the E-PL5 (16MP) and NEX-7 (24MP) and the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and NEX-7 (APS-C) have different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL5 was introduced 10 months later than the NEX-7 so they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving right into a detailed comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the E-PL5 matches up versus the NEX-7 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PL5 and Sony Alpha NEX-7. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-PL5 Gallery and Sony NEX-7 Gallery.

When you are intending to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL5 features exterior measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Sony NEX-7 has measurements of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony NEX-7 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Below is a front view size comparison of the E-PL5 vs the NEX-7.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL5 and NEX-7 is 88 and 84 respectively.

In many cases, it is very tough to visualize the difference in sensor measurements just by looking through technical specs. The photograph below might give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL5 and NEX-7.

As you can tell, the two cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL5 having a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF tougher and the Sony NEX-7 will result in greater detail using its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images more aggressively. The more recent E-PL5 should have a benefit in sensor technology.