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Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony QX30

Portability
86
Imaging
53
Features
81
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL7 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony QX30 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
  • Announced September 2014
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL6
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL8
Sony QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Revealed September 2014
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony QX30 Overview

Here is a extended assessment of the Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony QX30, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Lens-style by companies Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-PL7 (16MP) and the QX30 (20MP) is relatively well matched but the E-PL7 (Four Thirds) and QX30 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL7 was announced around the same time to the QX30 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera.

Before going into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple summary of how the E-PL7 grades vs the QX30 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL7 over the Sony QX30

 E-PL7 QX30 
Manually focus More exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3""Bigger screen (+3")
Screen resolution1037k0kCrisper screen (+1037k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Olympus E-PL7

 QX30 E-PL7 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL7 and Sony QX30

 E-PL7 QX30 
RevealedSeptember 2014September 2014Similar generation
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony QX30 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera often, you'll have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL7 offers exterior measurements 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 Sony QX30 has specifications of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") having a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony QX30 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have at that moment. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PL7 compared to the QX30.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony QX30 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL7 and QX30 is 86 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony QX30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony QX30 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be tough to see the contrast between sensor sizing simply by looking at technical specs. The graphic below might provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL7 and QX30.

As you can tell, both cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PL7 using its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Sony QX30 will resolve more detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony QX30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony QX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony QX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL7
Portrait photography with Sony QX30
71
manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
38
good resolution (20MP)
comes with face detect focusing
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Street photography advice
Sony QX30 Street photography advice
84
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
includes focus via touch
above average high ISO (25,600)
62
image stabilization (Optical)
has touch to focus
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Sports photography camera
Sony QX30 as a Sports photography camera
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
does not have phase detect autofocus
47
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (200 shots)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Travel photography factors
Sony QX30 Travel photography factors
85
includes focus via touch
MP count decent (16MP)
screen is selfie friendly
65
has touch to focus
good resolution (20MP)
quite wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (200 CIPA)
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Landscape photography advice
Sony QX30 Landscape photography advice
79
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
39
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen (")
manual exposure not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
not so great battery pack (200 shots)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Vlogging details
Sony QX30 Vlogging details
78
screen is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have mic socket
35
quite wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly display
missing mic jack
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony QX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL7 and Sony QX30
 Olympus PEN E-PL7Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL7 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Lens-style
Announced 2014-09-01 2014-09-03
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Lens-style
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 81 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-6.3
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches -
Display resolution 1,037k dot 0k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 8.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes no built-in flash None
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 357 gr (0.79 lbs) 193 gr (0.43 lbs)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 873 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 images 200 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-50 NP-BN,
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $499 $348