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Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS

Portability
86
Imaging
53
Features
81
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL7 front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS front
Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS 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
  • Introduced September 2014
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL6
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL8
Olympus TG-850 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 218g - 110 x 64 x 28mm
  • Introduced January 2014
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Overview

On this page, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-PL7 versus Olympus TG-850 iHS, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Waterproof and both of them are created by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-PL7 (16MP) and the TG-850 iHS (16MP) is pretty comparable but the E-PL7 (Four Thirds) and TG-850 iHS (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL7 was revealed 8 months later than the TG-850 iHS which means that they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-850 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a detailed comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the E-PL7 matches up vs the TG-850 iHS when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL7 over the Olympus TG-850 iHS

 E-PL7 TG-850 iHS 
IntroducedSeptember 2014January 2014More recent by 8 months
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen resolution1037k460kSharper screen (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-850 iHS over the Olympus E-PL7

 TG-850 iHS E-PL7 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL7 and Olympus TG-850 iHS

 E-PL7 TG-850 iHS 
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL7 provides outside measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") with a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) and the Olympus TG-850 iHS has specifications of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") having a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL7 versus Olympus TG-850 iHS in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the E-PL7 compared to the TG-850 iHS.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL7 and TG-850 iHS is 86 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Sensor Comparison

Normally, its tough to see the gap in sensor measurements only by checking out a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL7 and TG-850 iHS.

As you can see, the two cameras provide the same megapixel count albeit not the same sensor measurements. The E-PL7 features the bigger sensor which should make achieving shallow DOF less difficult. The more modern E-PL7 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Portrait photography info
Olympus TG-850 iHS Portrait photography info
71
has manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
exports RAW files
35
resolution is good (16MP)
comes with face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL7
Street photography with Olympus TG-850 iHS
84
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
features touch to focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
69
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL7
Sports photography with Olympus TG-850 iHS
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
no phase detect AF
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
weather sealing
better than average battery power (330 CIPA)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Travel photography factors
Olympus TG-850 iHS Travel photography factors
85
features touch to focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
72
better than average battery power (330 per charge)
weather sealing
resolution is good (16MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (21mm)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus TG-850 iHS as a Landscape photography camera
79
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
50
relatively wide (21mm)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
weather sealing
better than average battery power (330 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Vlogging features
Olympus TG-850 iHS Vlogging features
78
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have microphone port
33
relatively wide (21mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of mic support
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus TG-850 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL7 and Olympus TG-850 iHS
 Olympus PEN E-PL7Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL7 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Introduced 2014-09-01 2014-01-29
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS BSI-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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4616 x 3464
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
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 support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 21-105mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-5.7
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,037k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 1/2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
Flash settings no built-in flash -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB 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 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Yes
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 357g (0.79 lb) 218g (0.48 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1")
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 shots 330 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-50 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 sec, 12 sec, Custom Self-Timer (1-30 sec start timer, 1-10 pictures, 1-3 sec interval))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $499 $250