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Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
86
Imaging
53
Features
81
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL7 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony NEX-5 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
  • Revealed September 2014
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL6
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL8
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Released June 2010
  • Newer Model is Sony NEX-5N
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

On this page, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony NEX-5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by rivals Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-PL7 (16MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is pretty similar but the E-PL7 (Four Thirds) and NEX-5 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL7 was manufactured 4 years later than the NEX-5 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting into a complete comparison, here is a quick summary of how the E-PL7 grades versus the NEX-5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL7 over the Sony NEX-5

 E-PL7 NEX-5 
ReleasedSeptember 2014June 2010Fresher by 52 months
Screen resolution1037k920kCrisper screen (+117k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Olympus E-PL7

 NEX-5 E-PL7 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL7 and Sony NEX-5

 E-PL7 NEX-5 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry your camera, you should factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL7 has outer 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) and the Sony NEX-5 has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony NEX-5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select during that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PL7 and the NEX-5.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL7 and NEX-5 is 86 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's hard to envision the gap between sensor sizing only by reviewing specs. The graphic underneath will offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL7 and NEX-5.

All in all, both the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PL7 because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Olympus E-PL7 will offer you more detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures more aggressively. The younger E-PL7 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Portrait photography camera
71
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
72
focusing manually
MP count good (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Street photography highlights
Sony NEX-5 Street photography highlights
84
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
offers focus via touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
76
tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Sports photography information
Sony NEX-5 Sports photography information
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
does not have phase detect autofocus
52
MP count good (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Travel photography factors
Sony NEX-5 Travel photography factors
85
offers focus via touch
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
59
MP count good (14 megapixels)
no Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Landscape photography highlights
Sony NEX-5 Landscape photography highlights
79
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
68
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
MP count good (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Vlogging camera
78
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
missing microphone port
28
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
no mic jack
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL7 and Sony NEX-5
 Olympus PEN E-PL7Sony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL7 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2014-09-01 2010-06-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 81 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Total lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 357 grams (0.79 pounds) 287 grams (0.63 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 69
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 22.2
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 12.2
DXO Low light rating 873 796
Other
Battery life 350 images 330 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-50 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $499 $599