Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony HX90V: An Expert Camera Comparison for Enthusiasts and Pros

In the ever-evolving world of digital cameras, choosing the right tool can feel like navigating a jungle - dense with options, each promising a unique blend of features and quality. Today, I’m diving deep into two affordable but distinctly different cameras: the Olympus E-PL7, a Micro Four Thirds mirrorless setup aimed at entry-level enthusiasts, and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V, a compact, superzoom powerhouse with a small sensor designed for travelers seeking versatility.

I’ve spent considerable hands-on time with both, and this analysis covers everything from sensor technology to real-world field shooting - portrait to landscape, sports to night scenes. Along the way, I’m integrating test images and performance data to help you see beyond specs and marketing jargon.

Let’s unpack their capabilities and figure out which camera will serve you best.

Designing for Use: Handling, Ergonomics, and Build Quality

At first contact, a camera's feel in the hands often determines user experience more than pixel count or frame rate. The Olympus E-PL7 is a classic rangefinder-style mirrorless with a Micro Four Thirds (MFT) lens mount, while the Sony HX90V is a pocketable all-in-one superzoom.

Physically, the E-PL7 (115x67x38 mm; 357 g) is thicker and heavier than the slim HX90V (102x58x36 mm; 245 g). That extra heft comes with a more substantial grip and tactile control dials. Olympus equips this model with dedicated mode dials, customizable buttons, and a tilting touchscreen, aiming for a balance between beginner-friendliness and enthusiast control.

Conversely, Sony’s HX90V opts for extreme portability. Its fixed 30x zoom lens retracts into the body, making the camera very pocketable. Ergonomics are constrained by the compact design, which results in smaller buttons, fewer direct controls, and a non-touch tilting screen. Yet the HX90V surprises with inclusion of a pop-up electronic viewfinder (EVF), rare in compact cameras this size - granted at only 638k resolution.

The Olympus’s top layout feels more traditional and thoughtfully spaced, helping when shooting fast-moving subjects. The Sony’s minimalistic controls keep the camera discreet, ideal for street and travel photography, but may frustrate users who prefer more direct manual control or faster access to settings.

Build Quality and Environmental Resistance

Neither camera offers environmental sealing - no dust or moisture resistance - so careful handling is advised, especially for outdoor shoots in challenging conditions.

In sum, Olympus E-PL7 shines with better ergonomics and customization, while HX90V delivers on compactness and portability.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Camera

Image quality boils down to sensor size, resolution, and processing. Here, the differences are stark.

• Olympus E-PL7 uses a 16MP Four Thirds CMOS sensor (17.3x13 mm; sensor area ~225 mm²) with TruePic VII image processor.
• Sony HX90V has an 18MP 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS sensor (6.17x4.55 mm; ~28 mm²), processed with Sony’s Bionz X technology.

The MFT sensor on the Olympus is roughly eight times larger in surface area than Sony’s 1/2.3" sensor. This size advantage fundamentally improves light gathering, offering better dynamic range, noise control, and color depth.

DxO Mark rates Olympus with a solid overall score of 72, boasting a color depth of 22.7 bits and a dynamic range of 12.4 EV at base ISO.

The Sony HX90V, while widely praised for its zoom range and versatility, hasn’t been DxO-tested. However, small sensor compact cameras like this typically lag in low-light and dynamic range performance compared to larger sensors.

Real-world Impact on Photography

• Portraits: Higher resolution combined with larger sensor surface area allows the Olympus to render skin tones more naturally and preserve fine detail, while generating pleasant bokeh (background blur) thanks to faster lenses on interchangeable MFT glass. The Sony’s smaller sensor limits bokeh capabilities and subtle tonal gradations.

• Low-light & Noise Control: Our side-by-side testing under dim tungsten lighting reveals Olympus shots maintain detail and color integrity up to ISO 1600, whereas Sony’s images become noticeably noisier beyond ISO 400.

• Dynamic Range: Olympus’s 12.4 stops of dynamic range help recover detail in highlights and shadows during landscape photography, a crucial factor for shooting scenes with strong contrast such as sunrises. The Sony is more likely to clip highlights and lose shadow detail.

In the realm of resolution, the Sony’s 18MP edge helps in huge print sizes, but given the sensor size bottleneck, image files won’t rival the clarity or nuance of Olympus RAW files.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance

Autofocus responsiveness and accuracy can mean the difference between a keeper and a missed moment.

• Olympus E-PL7 features contrast-detection autofocus with 81 focus points and face detection. It supports AF tracking and continuous autofocus, but lacks phase detection. Eye detection AF or animal eye AF, commonly found on newer cameras, is absent here.

• Sony HX90V uses contrast detection AF with multifunction modes including center, multi-area, and face detection. It has no direct count of AF points available, but offers fast locking and continuous tracking in good light conditions.

Olympus boasts a respectable 8 FPS burst rate, albeit with a small buffer for RAW frames. Sony ups the ante with 10 FPS JPEG burst, ideal for grabbing fast sequences in a compact package.

In tested action scenarios like walking street subjects or kids chasing a ball, Sony’s quicker burst and instant focus-lock help capture fleeting moments. Olympus’s more precise frame-to-frame focus adjustments favor deliberate shooting with the right lens attached.

Lens Ecosystem and Versatility

Here, the Olympus E-PL7 flexes its major strength: an interchangeable lens mount compatible with Micro Four Thirds system lenses. With 107 lenses available, the user can experiment freely - from fast primes for portraits, macro optics, great quality wide angles and telephotos, to weather-sealed pro-grade glass.

The Sony HX90V is a fixed lens camera - its 24-720mm equivalent zoom lens handles everything from wide-angle landscapes to distant wildlife. This zoom versatility is remarkable, but the image quality trade-off and slower maximum apertures (f/3.5-6.4) limit creative control.

Display and Viewfinder Experience

Screen usability influences your framing and shooting workflow significantly.

Both cameras sport 3-inch tilting LCDs; Olympus provides a touch-sensitive display (resolution 1037k dots) versus Sony’s non-touchscreen at 921k dots.

I prefer Olympus’ touchscreen for its faster menu navigation and touch-to-focus options in live view - a huge plus when shooting candid moments or shooting video.

Sony includes a built-in pop-up electronic viewfinder (EVF), which Olympus offers only optionally (and none is included with the E-PL7 body). The HX90V EVF covers 100% frame area with 0.5x magnification, great for bright daylight framing when LCD glare would impair viewing.

Olympus users will likely rely on the rear screen for composing, but the lack of EVF on the base model diminishes usability in bright outdoor conditions.

Battery Life and Storage

Both cameras use proprietary battery packs:

• Olympus E-PL7’s BLS-50 battery lasts about 350 shots per charge.
• Sony HX90V’s NP-BX1 battery rates slightly better at 360 shots.

While similar, I find the Olympus’s smaller grip limits space for bigger batteries, so carry spares if you expect prolonged shooting.

Storage options are standard: one SD card slot for Olympus; Sony accepts SD and proprietary Memory Stick Duo cards, a relic of Sony’s history.

Specialized Photography Disciplines Examined

Let’s zoom into some specific photo genres:

Portrait Photography

Olympus’s interchangeable lenses facilitate wide apertures that deliver creamy bokeh, excellent for tight portraits. The 81-point autofocus with face detection helps lock on eyes, though it lacks dedicated eye-AF technology (not standard in 2014 models).

Sony's fixed lens limits aperture to f/3.5 at wide end, making shallow depth of field effects subtler. The pop-up EVF aids precise manual focusing, useful for portraits under controlled lighting.

Winner: Olympus for tonal rendition and optical flexibility.

Landscape Photography

Wide dynamic range and high-resolution files give Olympus an edge outdoors. Paired with MFT’s stellar wide-angle lenses, it captures detailed vistas with impressive shadow recovery.

Sony’s superzoom and GPS tagging offer travel convenience but struggles to match detail and highlight control.

Wildlife and Sports

While Olympus’s 8 FPS burst is solid, Sony’s 10 FPS superzoom offers a longer reach - 720mm equivalent through a compact body - beneficial for casual wildlife. However, small sensor noise and lower image quality restrain professional applicability.

Olympus’s 81 AF points improve focus accuracy on moving subjects, but Sony’s autofocus is well-tuned for point-and-shoot simplicity.

Street and Travel

Sony excels here. The HX90V’s pocketable design, powerful zoom, and built-in EVF make it a discreet and versatile companion for dynamic environments.

Olympus, bulkier and less stealthy, trades portability for creative control.

Macro Photography

With Olympus’s access to dedicated macro lenses, emphasizing close focusing and image stabilization, macro shooters have an affordable path to excellent results.

Sony allows 5cm focusing at wide-angle, which is decent for casual macros, but the smaller sensor will limit depth cues.

Night and Astrophotography

Olympus’s sensor performs better at high ISO (ISO 25600 max), though usable files are realistically capped near ISO 1600 for noise. Its in-body sensor stabilization aids long exposures.

Sony’s small sensor struggles beyond ISO 400; night photography is less rewarding, despite video up to 1080p60.

Video Capabilities

Both cameras capture full HD video.

• Olympus shoots 1080p at 30 fps, records using H.264 and Motion JPEG. No mic input limits audio control.
• Sony offers 1080p up to 60 fps, adds AVCHD and XAVC S codecs, also missing mic input.

Olympus’s in-body stabilization helps smooth footage. Sony’s optical image stabilization and higher frame rate options favor action video.

Connectivity and Additional Features

Both feature built-in Wi-Fi for image transfer; Sony adds NFC for pairing via smartphones. Sony wins in travel with built-in GPS for geo-tagging shots - Olympus lacks this.

Neither has Bluetooth or headphone/mic ports for demanding video applications.

Price and Value Assessment

At $499 for Olympus E-PL7 and $439 for Sony HX90V, both cameras reside in affordable but distinct niches. Olympus offers higher image quality and expandability; Sony offers a versatile one-lens system with massive zoom at a slightly lower price.

Olympus E PL7 front Olympus E PL7 screen back Sony HX90V front Sony HX90V screen back

Comparing sample images reveals the E-PL7’s superior color depth, smoother gradations, and better noise control, while the HX90V impresses at reach and corner-to-corner sharpness in daylight.

We can summarize:

Breaking down specific genres:

• Portraits: Olympus > Sony
• Landscape: Olympus > Sony
• Wildlife (casual): Sony > Olympus
• Sports (continuous action): Sony > Olympus
• Street: Sony > Olympus
• Macro: Olympus > Sony
• Night/Astro: Olympus > Sony
• Travel: Sony > Olympus (portability wins)
• Professional: Olympus > Sony

Final Thoughts: Which Camera Should You Choose?

If you desire image quality, creative control, and flexibility, and don’t mind carrying a larger system with interchangeable lenses, the Olympus E-PL7 remains a worthy entry-level mirrorless camera. It will suit portraits, landscapes, macro, and controllable video, especially for enthusiasts wanting to grow their craft.

On the other hand, if a compact, lightweight travel companion with an extraordinary zoom range that fits in a jacket pocket sounds appealing, the Sony HX90V is tempting. It’s ideal for casual photography, documentarians, and travelers who prioritize reach and convenience over ultimate image quality.

Quick Buyer Guidance

• Choose Olympus E-PL7 if:

  • You want better image quality and low light performance.
  • You plan to experiment with multiple lenses.
  • You value touch-screen operation and more manual controls.
  • Portrait, macro, or landscape photography is a priority.

• Choose Sony HX90V if:

  • You want a pocketable zoom that covers wide to super telephoto.
  • You need a built-in EVF for bright outdoor shooting.
  • Portability and ease-of-use trump advanced features.
  • Travel and street photography with minimal gear is your focus.

Choosing between these two cameras boils down to balancing image quality against convenience and zoom versatility. Both fill distinct roles in photographers’ bags and budgets - and knowing your shooting style and priorities will lead you to the camera that best fits your creative workflow.

Happy shooting!