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Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-7

Portability
86
Imaging
55
Features
76
Overall
63
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-7 front
Portability
84
Imaging
64
Features
71
Overall
66

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-7 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Launched September 2016
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL7
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL9
Sony NEX-7
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 400g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
  • Introduced December 2011
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-7 Overview

The following is a comprehensive review of the Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-7, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the E-PL8 (16MP) and NEX-7 (24MP) and the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and NEX-7 (APS-C) have different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL8 was introduced 4 years after the NEX-7 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving right into a complete comparison, here is a quick summation of how the E-PL8 grades vs the NEX-7 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Sony NEX-7

 E-PL8 NEX-7 
IntroducedSeptember 2016December 2011Newer by 59 months
Display resolution1037k921kSharper display (+116k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-7 over the Olympus E-PL8

 NEX-7 E-PL8 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Sony NEX-7

 E-PL8 NEX-7 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-7 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL8 offers external dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") along with a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) while the Sony NEX-7 has dimensions of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-7 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have at that time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-PL8 and the NEX-7.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-7 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL8 and NEX-7 is 86 and 84 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-7 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions just by researching technical specs. The picture underneath will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL8 and NEX-7.

As you have seen, both the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL8 with its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony NEX-7 will render greater detail using its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics way more aggressively. The more recent E-PL8 provides an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL8
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-7
73
manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
78
focusing manually
MP count good (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Street photography advice
Sony NEX-7 Street photography advice
84
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
supports touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
76
has a tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Sports photography information
Sony NEX-7 Sports photography information
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
does not have phase detect autofocus
62
MP count good (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
good battery power (430 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL8
Travel photography with Sony NEX-7
72
supports touch to focus
MP count decent (16MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
70
good battery power (430 per charge)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-7 as a Landscape photography camera
80
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
72
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
good battery power (430 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging highlights
Sony NEX-7 Vlogging highlights
36
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
missing microphone support
35
comes with face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with microphone port
doesn't have selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
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Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony NEX-7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL8 and Sony NEX-7
 Olympus PEN E-PL8Sony Alpha NEX-7
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL8 Sony Alpha NEX-7
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Launched 2016-09-19 2011-12-13
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 25600 16000
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 81 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,037k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 6.00 m
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 357g (0.79 lbs) 400g (0.88 lbs)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 81
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.1
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.4
DXO Low light score not tested 1016
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 430 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 or 5 images))
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $500 $699