Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony HX5

Lets look more closely at the Olympus E-PL7 and Sony HX5, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a big difference among the image resolutions of the E-PL7 (16MP) and HX5 (10MP) and the E-PL7 (Four Thirds) and HX5 (1/2.4") boast totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL7 was revealed 4 years later than the HX5 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX5 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a detailed comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the E-PL7 grades vs the HX5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PL7 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-PL7 Gallery and Sony HX5 Gallery.

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera regularly, you will want to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL7 has got exterior dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") with a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) whilst the Sony HX5 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL7 and Sony HX5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the E-PL7 vs the HX5.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL7 and HX5 is 86 and 92 respectively.

Generally, it is difficult to see the contrast in sensor sizing just by checking out technical specs. The photograph below will give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL7 and HX5.

As you have seen, both of those cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL7 with its larger sensor will make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Olympus E-PL7 will show more detail because of its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images more aggressively. The younger E-PL7 will have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.