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Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS

Portability
86
Imaging
53
Features
81
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL7 front
 
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS 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
  • Revealed September 2014
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL6
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL8
Olympus SZ-16 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Launched January 2013
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are built by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-PL7 (16MP) and the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) is relatively well matched but the E-PL7 (Four Thirds) and SZ-16 iHS (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL7 was brought out 21 months later than the SZ-16 iHS which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-16 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before going into a detailed comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the E-PL7 scores versus the SZ-16 iHS when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL7 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 E-PL7 SZ-16 iHS 
LaunchedSeptember 2014January 2013Fresher by 21 months
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k460kSharper screen (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Olympus E-PL7

 SZ-16 iHS E-PL7 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL7 and Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 E-PL7 SZ-16 iHS 
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera often, you are going to need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL7 provides physical dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) while the Olympus SZ-16 iHS has measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the E-PL7 vs the SZ-16 iHS.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL7 and SZ-16 iHS is 86 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be difficult to visualise the gap between sensor sizing only by checking specs. The visual underneath will provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL7 and SZ-16 iHS.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras feature the identical megapixel count albeit not the same sensor sizing. The E-PL7 comes with the bigger sensor which should make obtaining shallower DOF less difficult. The fresher E-PL7 will have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
71
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW formats
35
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
supports face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Street photography factors
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Street photography factors
84
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
comes with touch focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226g)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Sports photography camera
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
42
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (220 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Travel photography advice
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Travel photography advice
85
comes with touch focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
screen is selfie friendly
65
lighter than competition (226 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
no Time Lapse function
not so great battery life (220 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Landscape photography factors
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Landscape photography factors
79
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
41
rather wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
not so great battery life (220 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Vlogging details
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Vlogging details
78
screen is selfie friendly
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have microphone socket
31
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection autofocus
lighter than competition (226g)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic support
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL7 and Olympus SZ-16 iHS
 Olympus PEN E-PL7Olympus SZ-16 iHS
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL7 Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2014-09-01 2013-01-08
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 81 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,037k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash -
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 357g (0.79 lb) 226g (0.50 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 873 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 shots 220 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model 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 Single Single
Pricing at release $499 $230