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Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-12

Portability
86
Imaging
53
Features
81
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL7 front
 
Olympus SZ-12 front
Portability
89
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-12 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Announced September 2014
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL6
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PL8
Olympus SZ-12
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Announced January 2012
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-12 Overview

In this write-up, we are matching up the Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-12, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both built by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-PL7 (16MP) and the SZ-12 (14MP) is very well matched but the E-PL7 (Four Thirds) and SZ-12 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL7 was manufactured 2 years later than the SZ-12 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a in depth comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the E-PL7 matches up versus the SZ-12 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL7 over the Olympus SZ-12

 E-PL7 SZ-12 
AnnouncedSeptember 2014January 2012Fresher by 33 months
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k460kClearer display (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Olympus E-PL7

 SZ-12 E-PL7 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL7 and Olympus SZ-12

 E-PL7 SZ-12 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-12 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry your camera, you'll have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL7 comes with external dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") with a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) while the Olympus SZ-12 has proportions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-12 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose at the time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PL7 against the SZ-12.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-12 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL7 and SZ-12 is 86 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-12 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be difficult to imagine the gap between sensor sizing just by checking specifications. The photograph below may offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL7 and SZ-12.

To sum up, both of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL7 featuring a larger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-PL7 will resolve more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos a little more aggressively. The younger E-PL7 should have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-12 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL7
Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-12
71
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
34
decent megapixels (14MP)
supports face detection autofocus
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Street photography highlights
Olympus SZ-12 Street photography highlights
84
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
includes touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Sports photography info
Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography info
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect AF
41
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
low battery power (220 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Travel photography details
Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography details
85
includes touch to focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
65
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
low battery power (220 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Landscape photography factors
Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography factors
79
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
40
rather wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
low battery power (220 shots)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Vlogging features
Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging features
78
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
no external microphone support
31
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection autofocus
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic support
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL7 and Olympus SZ-12
 Olympus PEN E-PL7Olympus SZ-12
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL7 Olympus SZ-12
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2014-09-01 2012-01-10
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 25600 1600
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 81 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,037k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1700 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 8.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
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 357g (0.79 pounds) 226g (0.50 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 873 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photos 220 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-50 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $499 $350