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Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony A57

Portability
86
Imaging
52
Features
81
Overall
63
Olympus PEN E-PL7 front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
56
Features
85
Overall
67

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony A57 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
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL6
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL8
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Released September 2012
  • Succeeded the Sony A55
  • Replacement is Sony A58
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony A57 Overview

In this article, we will be looking at the Olympus E-PL7 versus Sony A57, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-PL7 (16MP) and the A57 (16MP) is relatively comparable but the E-PL7 (Four Thirds) and A57 (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL7 was launched 24 months later than the A57 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting in to a more detailed comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the E-PL7 scores vs the A57 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL7 over the Sony A57

 E-PL7 A57 
ReleasedSeptember 2014September 2012More recent by 24 months
Screen resolution1037k921kSharper screen (+116k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Olympus E-PL7

 A57 E-PL7 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen

Common features in the Olympus E-PL7 and Sony A57

 E-PL7 A57 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Both good for selfies

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL7 provides outside dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) whilst the Sony A57 has specifications of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") and a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL7 versus Sony A57 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have during that time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the E-PL7 versus the A57.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony A57 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL7 and A57 is 86 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to see the gap in sensor measurements just by going through specs. The visual here will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL7 and A57.

All in all, both the cameras enjoy the same exact resolution albeit not the same sensor measurements. The E-PL7 features the smaller sensor which is going to make obtaining shallower DOF more difficult. The newer E-PL7 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A57 as a Portrait photography camera
71
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
supports RAW files
73
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL7
Street photography with Sony A57
84
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
provides touch to focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
75
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL7
Sports photography with Sony A57
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
78
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Travel photography details
Sony A57 Travel photography details
84
provides touch to focus
good resolution (16 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
66
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A57 as a Landscape photography camera
79
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
72
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A57 as a Vlogging camera
78
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
missing external mic port
76
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external mic socket
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL7 and Sony A57
 Olympus PEN E-PL7Sony SLT-A57
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL7 Sony SLT-A57
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2014-09-01 2012-09-13
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 16000
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 81 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 107 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Fully Articulated
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames per second 12.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 357g (0.79 lb) 618g (1.36 lb)
Dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 75
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 23.4
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 13.0
DXO Low light score 873 785
Other
Battery life 350 images 550 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-50 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $499 $1,000