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Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZS50

Portability
86
Imaging
53
Features
81
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL7 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 front
Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZS50 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
  • Released September 2014
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL6
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL8
Panasonic ZS50
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 243g - 111 x 65 x 34mm
  • Revealed January 2015
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ70
  • Older Model is Panasonic ZS45
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS60
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZS50 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus E-PL7 versus Panasonic ZS50, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a large gap among the resolutions of the E-PL7 (16MP) and ZS50 (12MP) and the E-PL7 (Four Thirds) and ZS50 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL7 was introduced 4 months before the ZS50 so they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS50 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a detailed comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the E-PL7 grades against the ZS50 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL7 over the Panasonic ZS50

 E-PL7 ZS50 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS50 over the Olympus E-PL7

 ZS50 E-PL7 
Display resolution1040k1037kCrisper display (+3k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL7 and Panasonic ZS50

 E-PL7 ZS50 
RevealedSeptember 2014January 2015Same age
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZS50 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL7 offers outside dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS50 has specifications of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") along with a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL7 versus Panasonic ZS50 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you use at that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PL7 compared to the ZS50.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZS50 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL7 and ZS50 is 86 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZS50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZS50 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to see the contrast in sensor sizing merely by researching technical specs. The visual below will give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL7 and ZS50.

As you have seen, both cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PL7 having a larger sensor will make getting bokeh easier and the Olympus E-PL7 will render more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZS50 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic ZS50 Portrait photography factors
71
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
42
you can focus manually
has face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Street photography information
Panasonic ZS50 Street photography information
84
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
has touch to focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
68
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition (243g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL7
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS50
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
lack of phase detect autofocus
43
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking focus
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS50 as a Travel photography camera
85
has touch to focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
selfie friendly display
66
lighter than competition (243 grams)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
low megapixels (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZS50 Landscape photography advice
79
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
51
you can focus manually
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS50 as a Vlogging camera
78
selfie friendly display
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have mic port
34
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (243 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of mic socket
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic ZS50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL7 and Panasonic ZS50
 Olympus PEN E-PL7Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL7 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ70
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2014-09-01 2015-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,037k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.40 m
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
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 357 grams (0.79 pounds) 243 grams (0.54 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 111 x 65 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 72 44
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 20.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 11.2
DXO Low light rating 873 138
Other
Battery life 350 images 300 images
Battery type Battery Pack 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/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $499 $350