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Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SP-820UZ

Portability
86
Imaging
53
Features
81
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL7 front
 
Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ front
Portability
69
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Key Specs

Olympus E-PL7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Released September 2014
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL6
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL8
Olympus SP-820UZ
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-896mm (F3.4-5.7) lens
  • 485g - 117 x 78 x 93mm
  • Released August 2012
  • Replaced the Olympus SP-820UZ
  • Updated by Olympus SP-820UZ
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-PL7 and Olympus SP-820UZ, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both sold by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-PL7 (16MP) and the SP-820UZ (14MP) is relatively similar but the E-PL7 (Four Thirds) and SP-820UZ (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL7 was introduced 2 years later than the SP-820UZ and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SP-820UZ being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a thorough comparison, here is a quick summation of how the E-PL7 scores vs the SP-820UZ in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL7 over the Olympus SP-820UZ

 E-PL7 SP-820UZ 
ReleasedSeptember 2014August 2012Fresher by 25 months
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k460kSharper screen (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-820UZ over the Olympus E-PL7

 SP-820UZ E-PL7 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL7 and Olympus SP-820UZ

 E-PL7 SP-820UZ 
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera frequently, you'll have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL7 has got outside measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) and the Olympus SP-820UZ has sizing of 117mm x 78mm x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") with a weight of 485 grams (1.07 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL7 and Olympus SP-820UZ in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL7 and the SP-820UZ.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SP-820UZ size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL7 and SP-820UZ is 86 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SP-820UZ top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to visualise the difference between sensor sizing purely by going over a spec sheet. The visual here may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL7 and SP-820UZ.

As you can see, both of those cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL7 using its bigger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-PL7 will deliver more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures way more aggressively. The fresher E-PL7 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SP-820UZ sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Portrait photography information
Olympus SP-820UZ Portrait photography information
71
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
34
good megapixels (14MP)
offers face detection focus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Street photography camera
Olympus SP-820UZ as a Street photography camera
84
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
features touch focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
37
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
more heavy than competition (485 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Sports photography features
Olympus SP-820UZ Sports photography features
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
has no phase detect AF
33
long zoom range (22-896mm 40.7 x zoom)
good megapixels (14MP)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Travel photography information
Olympus SP-820UZ Travel photography information
85
features touch focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
selfie friendly display
55
good megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (22mm)
great reach (896mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition (485 grams)
does not have selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL7
Landscape photography with Olympus SP-820UZ
79
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
35
relatively wide (22mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
good megapixels (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL7
Vlogging with Olympus SP-820UZ
78
selfie friendly display
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have mic socket
25
relatively wide (22mm)
offers face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
does not have selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
lack of external microphone port
more heavy than competition (485 grams)
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SP-820UZ Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL7 and Olympus SP-820UZ
 Olympus PEN E-PL7Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL7 Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2014-09-01 2012-08-21
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS 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 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 81 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 22-896mm (40.7x)
Largest aperture - f/3.4-5.7
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,037k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - 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 speed 8.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 15.00 m
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 180 (30, 240 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 357 grams (0.79 lb) 485 grams (1.07 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 117 x 78 x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 pictures -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $499 $299