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Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZR1

Portability
86
Imaging
53
Features
81
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL7 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZR1 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
  • Announced September 2014
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL6
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL8
Panasonic ZR1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Announced July 2009
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-ZX1
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZR1 Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZR1, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a big difference between the image resolutions of the E-PL7 (16MP) and ZR1 (12MP) and the E-PL7 (Four Thirds) and ZR1 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL7 was launched 5 years after the ZR1 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZR1 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a short summary of how the E-PL7 grades vs the ZR1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL7 over the Panasonic ZR1

 E-PL7 ZR1 
AnnouncedSeptember 2014July 2009Newer by 63 months
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1037k230kCrisper screen (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR1 over the Olympus E-PL7

 ZR1 E-PL7 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL7 and Panasonic ZR1

 E-PL7 ZR1 

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZR1 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera regularly, you'll need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL7 provides outer measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) and the Panasonic ZR1 has sizing of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") along with a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZR1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the E-PL7 compared to the ZR1.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZR1 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL7 and ZR1 is 86 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZR1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZR1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very hard to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reviewing specifications. The pic here may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL7 and ZR1.

To sum up, each of these cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL7 because of its bigger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Olympus E-PL7 will deliver greater detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will help you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more modern E-PL7 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZR1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL7
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZR1
71
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
saves RAW files
21
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZR1 as a Street photography camera
84
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
has focus by touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Sports photography features
Panasonic ZR1 Sports photography features
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect auto focus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZR1 as a Travel photography camera
85
has focus by touch
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
57
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic ZR1 Landscape photography highlights
79
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
32
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual control
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZR1 as a Vlogging camera
78
display is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
no external microphone port
28
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic jack
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZR1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL7 and Panasonic ZR1
 Olympus PEN E-PL7Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL7 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
Other name - Lumix DMC-ZX1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2014-09-01 2009-07-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII Venus Engine V
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 81 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-200mm (8.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 1,037k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.10 m
Flash options no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 357 grams (0.79 lbs) 158 grams (0.35 lbs)
Dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
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 images -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail price $499 $280