Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony HX20V: A Real-World Camera Showdown for Photography Enthusiasts

Choosing the right camera can be daunting with so many options catering to varying needs and styles. Today, I’m diving into a detailed comparison of two popular but fundamentally different cameras: the Olympus E-PL7, an entry-level mirrorless model with Micro Four Thirds sensor, and the Sony HX20V, a compact superzoom fixed-lens camera designed for versatile travel and casual shooting.

Having personally tested both devices extensively in real-world conditions across diverse photography disciplines, I’ll guide you through their core differences, strengths, and weaknesses - helping you decide which camera might be a better fit for your shooting style and visual ambitions.

Design and Ergonomics: Handling What Matters Most

From a tactile perspective, the Olympus E-PL7 and Sony HX20V cater to very different use cases, reflected in their designs.

• Olympus E-PL7 adopts a rangefinder-style mirrorless body with a sturdy yet compact form factor measuring 115 x 67 x 38 mm and weighing 357g. The comfortable grip, along with robust button placement, facilitates one-handed operation - a boon for street and portrait photographers who require quick access to controls.
• By contrast, the Sony HX20V is a pocketable compact camera with a smaller footprint of 107 x 62 x 35 mm and lighter weight at 254g, making it ideal for travel or casual everyday use where portability is paramount.

The Olympus’s physical bulk offers improved ergonomics for extended shooting sessions, in my experience. You’ll find it easier to hold steady and tweak settings swiftly. The Sony HX20V’s smaller size trades some handling comfort for convenience, but remains respectable for a superzoom compact.

Control Layout and User Interface: Intuitive Versus Simplified

On top, the Olympus features a clean and functional array of dedicated dials and buttons, giving enthusiasts manual control over exposure parameters - aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and exposure compensation - all essential for creative photography.

The Sony HX20V, designed for point-and-shoot simplicity, skews toward an automatic and scene-mode driven interface. It lacks aperture and shutter priority modes, though manual exposure is supported, and its control scheme is minimalistic with fewer customizable buttons.

I tested the Olympus’s TruePic VII processor interfacing with a 3-inch, 1037K-dot tilting touchscreen. This touch interface is notably responsive and self-friendly, allowing focus point selection with a tap, very useful for more dynamic shooting scenarios like portraits and street photography. The Sony HX20V compensates with a fixed 3-inch, 922K-dot XtraFine TruBlack LCD, excellent for bright outdoors but without touchscreen or tilting capability.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of your Photos

Image quality boils down primarily to sensor size and technology:

The Olympus E-PL7 sports a significantly larger Four Thirds sensor (about 8x the surface area of the small sensor in the Sony HX20V), delivering superior image quality, especially in low light and high dynamic range environments.

In my hands-on tests, the E-PL7 produced cleaner images at higher ISO values - a critical advantage for night, landscape, and indoor photography. The larger sensor also results in more pleasing depth-of-field control, translating into better subject-background separation and bokeh, which portrait shooters will appreciate.

The Sony HX20V’s tiny 1/2.3" sensor, while bumping the resolution slightly to 18MP, understandably struggles in noise control beyond ISO 800. It shines in daylight due to the versatile 20x optical zoom lens, handy for travel and wildlife snapshots at a distance, but the image quality cannot match the richness and detail of the Olympus.

Olympus E PL7 front Olympus E PL7 screen back Sony HX20V front Sony HX20V screen back

Autofocus Performance: Speed, Accuracy, and Face Detection

Both cameras use contrast-detection AF systems, but the Olympus has significantly more focus points (81 vs 9), allowing finer AF area selection. It supports continuous, single, tracking, and face-detection AF modes, with touchscreen AF area selection adding to its speed and flexibility in real shooting.

In my wildlife and sports testing, the E-PL7’s continuous AF and AF tracking kept pace well with moderately fast subjects, a testament to TruePic VII processing efficiency. The Sony’s 9-point AF is more limited, somewhat slower at acquisition, and less reliable for unpredictable movement.

Neither camera offers phase detection or advanced animal eye AF, so if you plan extensive wildlife photography, consider these AF limitations.

Burst and Shutter Speed: Capturing the Decisive Moment

The Olympus E-PL7 is capable of 8 frames per second continuous shooting with an electronic shutter speed ceiling of 1/4000 sec. This performance fits well with casual sports or wildlife bursts, allowing you to catch key moments.

Conversely, the Sony HX20V offers a slightly faster burst at 10 fps, but with a maximum shutter speed of 1/1600 sec, which may not freeze ultra-fast action cleanly. Additionally, the HX20V lacks aperture or shutter priority modes, limiting creative control with motion.

In my experience testing moving subjects, Olympus’s more versatile shutter and exposure controls, combined with good burst rate, give it an edge for sports and action photography.

Video Capabilities: Which Shoots for You?

Both cameras can record Full HD video, but with differing specifications and usefulness.

• Olympus E-PL7 shoots 1080p at 30fps, storing in H.264 or Motion JPEG. It lacks external microphone input and headphone jack, so audio customization is limited.
• Sony HX20V offers 1080p video up to 60fps in AVCHD or MPEG-4 formats, which can appeal to casual videographers wanting smoother motion. It also lacks audio input ports.

Neither camera supports 4K video, and given their entry-level positioning, video quality and options remain basic.

For enthusiasts seeking a reliable all-rounder for stills-first with decent video, the Olympus edges ahead, primarily due to better overall image quality and manual exposure during video.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Both cameras are entry-level, value-oriented models, and neither offers weather sealing or rugged durability. The Olympus E-PL7 has a metal top plate and a more solid feel, while the Sony HX20V’s all-plastic body saves weight at some cost to robustness.

Neither camera is freeze-, dust-, or shock-proof, so discretion is advised for harsh field conditions.

Battery Life and Storage: Staying Power and Convenience

Battery life comes in handy usability, especially for travel and outdoor shooting sessions.

• Olympus E-PL7 uses the BLS-50 battery rated for approximately 350 shots per charge.
• Sony HX20V’s NP-BG1 battery offers slightly fewer shots at about 320.

In practice, both deliver similar endurance, though the Olympus’s larger body might allow for grip attachments with extra batteries.

Storage-wise, both accept SD/SDHC/SDXC cards. The Sony also offers compatibility with Memory Stick Duo formats, useful if you have legacy Sony accessories.

Lens Ecosystem and Flexibility

The Olympus E-PL7’s Micro Four Thirds mount opens the door to over 100 lens options, from wide-angle primes to telephoto zooms. This system flexibility is critical for photographers wanting to grow their kit across genres like portraits, landscapes, macro, and sports.

The Sony HX20V's fixed lens ranges from 25-500mm (equivalent), with max apertures of F3.2-5.8. This superzoom covers many focal lengths but limits optical quality and aperture flexibility.

If you want the freedom to customize lenses for your shooting needs, the Olympus stands head and shoulders above the fixed-lens Sony.

Connectivity and Extra Features

• Olympus includes built-in Wi-Fi, handy for instant sharing and remote control, despite lacking Bluetooth or NFC.
• Sony HX20V offers Eye-Fi card compatibility for wireless image transfers but no built-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
• Both cameras provide USB 2.0 and HDMI out ports for tethered use and playback.

The Olympus also supports customizable white balance, multiple exposure modes (shutter, aperture, manual), exposure and white balance bracketing, and time-lapse recording - features missing or limited on the Sony.

Price and Value for Money

At launch, the Olympus E-PL7 was priced around $499, while the Sony HX20V was closer to $397.

Given the Olympus’s superior sensor, greater manual controls, lens versatility, and better image quality, the extra cost is justified for those serious about creative photography.

For casual shooters or travelers seeking all-in-one convenience, the Sony model presents budget-friendly simplicity at the expense of image quality and flexibility.

Photography Disciplines: How These Cameras Stack Up

Let’s drill down how each camera performs across popular shooting genres based on my extended testing and user feedback.

Key Strengths and Limitations Summary

Olympus E-PL7 Pros

• Larger Four Thirds sensor for superior image quality
• Interchangeable MFT lens system with 100+ options
• Responsive tilting touchscreen with touch AF
• Balanced burst and AF tracking performance
• Advanced manual exposure modes and bracketing
• Wi-Fi connectivity for easy sharing and remote shooting
• Good battery life and solid build quality

Olympus E-PL7 Cons

• No built-in viewfinder (requires optional EVF)
• Lacks weather sealing for rugged use
• No microphone/headphone jacks for video

Sony HX20V Pros

• Compact, light, and pocketable superzoom design
• 20x telephoto zoom covers wide range without lens changes
• Full HD video at 60fps for smoother motion capture
• Built-in GPS for geotagging travel photos
• Faster burst mode for quick captures

Sony HX20V Cons

• Tiny sensor with lower image quality, especially in low light
• Limited manual controls and no aperture/shutter priority modes
• No raw image support, restricting post-processing
• Slower contrast-detect AF and fewer focusing points
• No built-in Wi-Fi or touchscreen

Who Should Buy the Olympus E-PL7?

If you’re an enthusiast or budding professional who prioritizes image quality, creative control, and future lens expansion, the Olympus E-PL7 is a versatile, well-rounded mirrorless system that punches above its entry-level price.

• You’ll appreciate its ability to deliver pleasing portraits with rich skin tones and creamy bokeh.
• Landscapers can exploit the sensor’s dynamic range and high-resolution output.
• Its customizable controls and decent burst rates support moderate action and sports.
• Shooter flexibility across all genres is impressive given its cost.
• The touchscreen interface feels modern and helps new users learn manual focus and exposure.

In short, the E-PL7 is for photographers who want a compact but serious photographic tool that will grow with their ambitions.

Who Should Consider the Sony HX20V?

If portability, all-in-one convenience, and long zoom reach matter most to you, especially for travel and casual everyday shooting, the Sony HX20V is compelling.

• This is the camera for spontaneous photographers who prefer never swapping lenses.
• GPS and longer zoom range enable versatile outdoors, wildlife, and family event shots.
• You won’t need advanced controls or raw capture; point-and-shoot auto modes suffice.
• The smooth 1080p/60fps video mode is a plus for casual movie making.

The HX20V suits budget-minded consumers or travelers who want simplicity with reach, sacrificing image quality for small size.

Final Thoughts: Making the Right Choice

Having tested both cameras across multiple photography types - from studio portraits to trail-side wildlife and night landscapes - the choice between Olympus E-PL7 and Sony HX20V hinges on your priorities.

• Want better image quality, manual control, and creative flexibility? Olympus’s system mirrorless with larger sensor wins hands-down.
• Need portability, all-in-one zoom, and user-friendly shooting? Sony’s compact superzoom fits the bill.

For many enthusiasts serious about learning and growing their photography, the Olympus is well worth the modest premium and expanded system opportunity. But if you want a lightweight travel companion that captures everything from wide-angle street scenes to far-off subjects without fuss, consider the Sony as a practical choice.

I hope this detailed comparison helps you make an informed decision grounded in real-world performance and technical insight. Remember - your ideal camera is one that suits how and where you like to shoot, and that inspires you every time you pick it up.

Happy shooting!

Appendix: Quick Specs Comparison Table

Olympus E PL7 front Olympus E PL7 screen back Sony HX20V front Sony HX20V screen back