Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic LX7: Which Compact System Camera Suits Your Photography Style?

Choosing the right camera can be a minefield, especially when options come from respected brands like Olympus and Panasonic. Both the Olympus PEN E-PL7 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 have their legacies as capable shooters, targeted at photography enthusiasts who want a step-up from smartphones or entry-level cameras - but which one delivers the best bang for your buck today? I’ve spent extensive hands-on time with both models, putting their sensors, autofocus, build, and image quality through rigorous real-world tests across various photography genres. This in-depth comparison will help you pick the perfect tool tailored to your style and budget.

Let’s break down their capabilities by category, peppered with the kind of first-hand insights only years of camera testing can reveal.

Getting a Grip: Size, Ergonomics, and Handling

The Olympus E-PL7 is part of the Micro Four Thirds mirrorless crowd, while the Panasonic LX7 is a high-end compact with a fixed lens. Right off the bat, the physical size and handling experience tell you a lot about who the camera suits.

The Olympus E-PL7 is designed like a mini rangefinder-style mirrorless camera - compact for a system camera at 115 x 67 x 38mm and weighing 357g. Its body offers a decent grip and external dials that appeal to enthusiasts who want manual controls without lugging a DSLR. The inclusion of a tilting touchscreen enhances usability, especially for creative angles and selfies - a nod to its entry-level friendly design.

In contrast, the Panasonic LX7 is more pocketable (111 x 68 x 46mm, 298g) thanks to its fixed lens arrangement. The lens barrel adds bulk, but overall it fits better in coat pockets or small bags, making it ideal for street and travel shooters who prioritize portability.

If you’re a cheapskate who hates carrying clubs for thumbs (big cameras), the LX7 may feel less intrusive on travels or urban outings. Conversely, the E-PL7’s modularity (you can swap lenses) and tactile controls will please those who want more photographic flexibility and don’t mind a slightly bigger footprint.

The top deck design comparison further illustrates this difference:

Olympus’s top controls, including an exposure compensation dial and mode selector incorporated ergonomically, offer quick access during shoots. The Panasonic’s compact design trades off physical dials for more menu-driven controls, which can be less immediate but keep the pocket-friendly profile.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: Bigger Sensor, Better Specs?

Sensor size and technology often make or break camera IQ (Image Quality). The Olympus E-PL7’s 17.3 x 13mm Four Thirds sensor boasts a 16-megapixel CMOS array, while the Panasonic LX7 sports a much smaller 1/1.7-inch, 10-megapixel CMOS sensor measuring only 7.44 x 5.58mm.

Hands down, the Olympus E-PL7 takes the crown with significantly more sensor real estate (224.9 mm²) compared to the LX7’s 41.52 mm². This size difference translates into improved dynamic range and better color depth - DxOMark scores confirm this with E-PL7’s 72 overall vs LX7’s 50. That gap isn’t trivial; more sensor area means better light gathering, less noise at high ISO, and finer gradations in tones, all of which are key when shooting portraits or landscapes.

Here’s where Olympus shines: its DxO color depth is 22.7 stops, and dynamic range hits 12.4 EV, superior to Panasonic’s 20.7 and 11.7 respectively. For low-light lovers, the Olympus maintains cleaner images with a low-light ISO score of 873 against LX7’s pedestrian 147.

For practical use, this means that in stuff like night photography or dim interiors, the Olympus will deliver less grain and more detail retention - critical for professionals or enthusiasts who demand quality.

How Do These Cameras Handle Portraits?

Portrait photography is all about pleasing skin tones, background separation, and capturing expressive eyes sharply. The Olympus E-PL7’s Micro Four Thirds sensor inherently lets you use lenses with wide apertures to carve creamy bokeh, an advantage over the fixed-lens LX7 here.

The LX7’s standout feature is its impressively fast F1.4 aperture at the wide end, which is rare in fixed zoom compacts. This means it can create reasonably shallow depth of field, especially at 24mm, making portraits pop. However, due to the smaller sensor and crop factor (~4.8x), achieving extremely creamy bokeh is tougher than with the Olympus.

Olympus also benefits from advanced face detection autofocus, with 81 focus points via contrast detection, ensuring sharp eyes even if your subject moves. The LX7, while offering AF tracking and face detection with 23 AF points, is slightly slower and less confident in low light. Neither camera supports animal eye AF (a common pro feature nowadays), but for human portraits, Olympus’s focusing is more reliable.

In real shooting, I found the Olympus’s color rendering for skin is warmer and more natural, important when you’re trying to please clients or social media followers who can spot unpleasant tones instantly. Panasonic's color is ever-so-slightly cooler, which some may like for editorial stylings but might require more post-processing finesse.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range, Resolution, and Durability

Landscape photographers value high resolution and wide dynamic range to capture expansive scenes with deep shadows and bright skies. Olympus E-PL7’s 16MP sensor offers a bit more detail and better shadow retention than the LX7’s 10MP chip.

The E-PL7’s higher native ISO ceiling (25600) could be handy for nightscapes, but the noise profile improves only up till ISO 1600-3200, beyond which quality degrades quickly.

Neither camera sports weather sealing or rugged build that outdoor landscape shooters may crave - the Olympus E-PL7 is not weatherproof, nor is the LX7. If you plan to shoot frequently in rough conditions, an additional protective case is a must.

That said, both cameras deliver sufficient resolution for decent prints up to 16x20 inches, but Olympus’s sensor and processor give it an edge in retaining color fidelity in contrasting scenes.

Wildlife and Sports Photography: Autofocus and Burst Speed Test

When it comes to fast-moving subjects, autofocus performance and continuous burst speed define your success.

The Olympus E-PL7 hits 8 frames per second burst rate, which is commendable for its class. It offers continuous AF and tracking with 81 AF points – enough to cover subjects well during wildlife or sports shooting. But the lack of phase-detection AF (only contrast detection) limits tracking reliability for very fast or erratic subjects, often resulting in missed focus or hunting under challenging conditions.

The Panasonic LX7, despite its smaller sensor, has an impressive burst speed of 11 FPS - outpacing the Olympus - but has only 23 AF points. Its contrast-detect AF struggles more under low-light and fast motion, making it less ideal for sports.

Neither model is tailored for pro sports or wildlife shooters - that's understandable given their price brackets and system class - but if you do want occasional action shots, Olympus’s better AF coverage and slightly more robust buffer make it the safer bet.

Street Photography and Travel: Discreet Design Versus Versatility

The LX7’s compact size and fast lens make it a formidable street camera. At 298g and pocketable, you can shoot discreetly without attracting attention - a plus for candid moments. Its optical image stabilization helps to get sharp shots handheld in dim environments without cranking ISO too high.

Conversely, the Olympus E-PL7, while still compact, is marginally bulkier and louder due to lens swaps. Its tilting touchscreen is useful for shooting from awkward angles on the street or for vlogging style travel content.

From a battery life standpoint, the E-PL7 will give you about 350 shots per charge compared to LX7’s 330 - pretty comparable, but Olympus batteries are slightly bigger and available as spares cheaply. Both use SD cards.

The Olympus’s advantage is in its Micro Four Thirds lens ecosystem (over 100 lenses), making it adaptable to many styles and focal lengths - something the LX7’s fixed 24-90mm lens can’t match. If you’re a traveler who likes to pack light but needs zoom flexibility, Olympus wins here - but if you want single-lens simplicity and ultra-portability, LX7 ticks that box.

Macro Photography: Focusing Precision and Magnification

Macro shooters demand precision focusing and working distance.

The Panasonic LX7 excels here with a macro focus range starting as close as 1 cm - insane for such a compact camera - great for capturing tiny details of flowers, insects, or textures without additional accessories.

Olympus E-PL7 relies on macro-capable Micro Four Thirds lenses; some affordable primes like the Olympus 30mm f/3.5 Macro let you get close, but minimum focus distance and magnification vary. Plus, the presence of in-body image stabilization helps reduce blur at slow shutter speeds that macro demands.

If you’re passionate about macro and want point-and-shoot simplicity, LX7 is a neat package. For dedicated macro with better overall image quality, Olympus is preferable but involves buying lenses.

Night and Astrophotography: High ISO and Exposure Controls

Long exposures and low-light noise are where sensor tech really matters.

Olympus E-PL7’s sensor paired with the TruePic VII processor provides cleaner images at high ISO settings up to 3200 compared to LX7, which starts to show noticeable noise past ISO 400-800.

Neither camera supports bulb mode or advanced astro-specific exposure modes, but both allow manual shutter speed down to 60 seconds and custom white balance, which seasoned night shooters can leverage.

Olympus’s sensor size advantage pays dividends here - with less noise, richer blacks, and better detail in star fields or cityscapes. Panasonic’s lens speed helps gather light faster (f/1.4 vs f/2.0+), but smaller sensor area still limits overall image quality.

Video Capabilities: Specs and Real-World Use

For casual videographers or content creators, the video functionality could be a decisive factor.

Both cameras shoot Full HD 1080p video:

• Olympus E-PL7 records 1080p at 30fps, using H.264 and MJPEG codecs.
• Panasonic LX7 offers 1080p at up to 60fps with AVCHD support - a bonus if you want slow-mo smoothing or smoother motion.

Neither camera includes microphone or headphone jacks, which is a bummer for audio enthusiasts. Olympus lacks in-body video stabilization but offers sensor-based still stabilization, which helps a little. Panasonic compensates with optical lens stabilization.

The LX7’s video is less prone to rolling shutter distortion due to its smaller sensor and fast lens; the higher frame rates are nice when you want smoother clips. Olympus’s screen tilting design aids vlog framing, but the refresh rate is capped.

In short: the LX7 is slightly better for casual HD video shooters seeking 60fps; Olympus caters more to stills-first creators who dabble in social video.

Professional Workflows and Reliability

Neither camera is a full professional mainstay, but they suit different niches.

Olympus’s support for Micro Four Thirds lenses - including pro-grade primes and zooms - makes it an excellent backup or budget-friendly B-camera in workflows reliant on RAW and standard color profiles (.ORF files). It supports RAW shooting, full manual controls, and respectable buffer capacity for burst shooting.

Panasonic LX7 also supports RAW, but its fixed-lens design limits lens options for studio or tailored assignments. Its slightly lower sensor quality and limited controls mean it’s better as a compact backup or for travel journalism with quick turnaround formats.

Both offer USB 2.0 and HDMI connectivity but lack Wi-Fi on LX7, whereas Olympus has built-in wireless for easy image transfer.

Build quality on both is plastic-heavy and lacks environmental sealing, so care is necessary for reliability long-term.

A Visual Showcase: Sample Images from Both Cameras

Seeing is believing. Here are side-by-side sample images from both cameras, under diverse conditions from daylight portraits to night shots.

Olympus E PL7 front Olympus E PL7 screen back Panasonic LX7 front Panasonic LX7 screen back

Notice the richer textures and smoother bokeh on the E-PL7 shots alongside the LX7’s sharper but more compressed-looking JPEGs. Dynamic range differences are visible in shadow detail recovery.

Overall Scores: Performance Synthesis

Here’s how these cameras stack up according to DxOMark’s sensor benchmarks and real-world testing:

Olympus E-PL7 leads in sensor IQ, dynamic range, and low-light ability while Panasonic LX7 offers faster burst rate and better lens speed.

Genre-Specific Ratings: Who Excels Where?

Breaking down genre performance to help you pinpoint your perfect match:

Summarizing Strengths and Weaknesses

Olympus E-PL7: The Mirrorless Modular Contender

Pros:

• Larger Four Thirds sensor delivers better image quality especially in low light and dynamic range
• Extensive lens ecosystem for maximum versatility
• Tilting touchscreen interface improves handling and creativity
• Strong autofocus system with face detection and multiple focus points
• Built-in wireless connectivity for easy sharing

Cons:

• No built-in electronic viewfinder (optional)
• Bulkier than compact cameras, less pocketable
• No microphone/headphone ports, limited video features
• Relatively short battery life for long shoots

Panasonic Lumix LX7: The Pocketable Powerhouse

Pros:

• Bright f/1.4 lens lets in more light, excellent for low-light handheld use
• Very compact and pocket-friendly design perfect for street & travel
• Faster burst shooting for brief action shots
• Reliable optical image stabilization for video and stills
• Smooth Full HD video up to 60fps

Cons:

• Smaller sensor means lower image quality and poorer high ISO performance
• Fixed lens limits flexibility and ultimate resolution
• No touchscreen or wireless connectivity
• Autofocus less reliable in challenging conditions

Who Should Buy Which Camera?

Choose Olympus E-PL7 if:

• You want the flexibility of interchangeable lenses and superior image quality.
• Portraits, landscape, and low-light photography matter most.
• You appreciate manual controls and a more traditional shooting experience.
• Wireless image transfer and touchscreen are important.
• You don’t mind a moderately larger system with some extra weight.

Opt for Panasonic LX7 if:

• Portability and quick grab-and-go photography are your priorities.
• Street, travel, and macro photography appeal to your style.
• You want a bright lens right out of the box without swapping glass.
• You value faster frame rates for casual action shots.
• You shoot moderate video and want smooth 60fps recording.

Final Takeaway: Balancing Value and Photography Needs

Both the Olympus PEN E-PL7 and Panasonic LX7 serve distinctive niches in the enthusiast market. My hands-on testing clearly shows the Olympus E-PL7 as the smarter choice for photographers prioritizing image quality, lens versatility, and control ergonomics. Its sensor and autofocus advantages make a noticeable difference when you’re pushing creative boundaries.

The Panasonic LX7, meanwhile, remains one of the best high-end compacts ever made, thanks to its blazing fast lens and compact design. If you want simple, lightweight gear without sacrificing too much versatility - and you mostly shoot outdoors or on the street - it’s a winner, especially for those on a tighter budget looking for great all-around performance in a tiny package.

In 2024, look at these cameras as budget-conscious, reliable companions that won’t replace flagship mirrorless giants but still punch above their weight. Whether your passion is landscapes, portraits, macro flowers, or just casual travel snaps, this head-to-head helps you see which camera matches your eye - and your workflow best.

If you enjoyed this comparison and want to explore more about lenses or advanced settings for these models, let me know. I’ve tested dozens of MFT lenses on the E-PL7 and some creative hacks to push the LX7 beyond its size limits.

Happy shooting - and may your next camera be exactly what you need!

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