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Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony HX7V

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony HX7V Key Specs

Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Introduced September 2012
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
  • Announced July 2011
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony HX7V Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-PL5 versus Sony HX7V, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the HX7V (16MP) is pretty comparable but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and HX7V (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL5 was manufactured 15 months later than the HX7V which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX7V being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a full comparison, below is a concise summary of how the E-PL5 matches up against the HX7V with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Sony HX7V

 E-PL5 HX7V 
AnnouncedSeptember 2012July 2011Fresher by 15 months
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX7V over the Olympus E-PL5

 HX7V E-PL5 
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Sony HX7V

 E-PL5 HX7V 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony HX7V Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL5 comes with exterior measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) whilst 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).

Check out the Olympus E-PL5 versus Sony HX7V in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PL5 and the HX7V.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony HX7V size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL5 and HX7V is 88 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony HX7V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony HX7V Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to see the contrast in sensor sizing purely by seeing specs. The graphic underneath might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL5 and HX7V.

All in all, the two cameras have got the exact same megapixels albeit not the same sensor sizing. The E-PL5 offers the bigger sensor which will make getting shallower depth of field easier. The younger E-PL5 will have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony HX7V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony HX7V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony HX7V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX7V as a Portrait photography camera
71
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
30
megapixel count decent (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX7V as a Street photography camera
85
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
offers focus by touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography features
Sony HX7V Sports photography features
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
lacks phase detect AF
39
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography features
Sony HX7V Travel photography features
75
offers focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
doesn't have Time Lapse function
67
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
missing Timelapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX7V as a Landscape photography camera
74
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse function
42
reasonably wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging advice
Sony HX7V Vlogging advice
78
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have mic port
32
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
missing microphone support
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony HX7V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Sony HX7V
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-09-17 2011-07-19
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - 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 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Min native ISO 200 125
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - XtraFine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 4.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325 gr (0.72 pounds) 208 gr (0.46 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 889 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 shots -
Type of battery 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 recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Price at launch $400 $499