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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FH7

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FH7 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Revealed February 2018
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL8
Panasonic FH7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 19mm
  • Announced September 2011
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-FS22
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FH7 Overview

Here is a comprehensive review of the Olympus E-PL9 versus Panasonic FH7, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the FH7 (16MP) is pretty comparable but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and FH7 (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL9 was revealed 6 years later than the FH7 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH7 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief summation of how the E-PL9 grades versus the FH7 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Panasonic FH7

 E-PL9 FH7 
AnnouncedFebruary 2018September 2011Fresher by 79 months
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k230kSharper screen (+810k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH7 over the Olympus E-PL9

 FH7 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic FH7

 E-PL9 FH7 
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FH7 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL9 features physical dimensions of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) while the Panasonic FH7 has dimensions of 95mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL9 versus Panasonic FH7 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the E-PL9 vs the FH7.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FH7 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL9 and FH7 is 85 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FH7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FH7 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizing only by checking out specifications. The photograph here may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL9 and FH7.

Plainly, each of these cameras feature the identical resolution albeit different sensor sizing. The E-PL9 provides the bigger sensor which should make getting shallower DOF simpler. The fresher E-PL9 provides an advantage in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FH7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FH7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FH7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FH7 as a Portrait photography camera
73
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW files
34
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography highlights
Panasonic FH7 Street photography highlights
84
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
supports focus via touch
67
image stabilization (Optical)
includes touch focus
lighter than competition in class (126 grams)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL9
Sports photography with Panasonic FH7
69
quiet shooting (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect AF
40
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
offers tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic FH7 Travel photography highlights
77
connects via bluetooth
supports focus via touch
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
display isn't selfie friendly
71
lighter than competition in class (126g)
includes touch focus
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse function
does not offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography details
Panasonic FH7 Landscape photography details
80
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
43
quite wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL9
Vlogging with Panasonic FH7
35
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing mic port
34
quite wide (28mm)
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
lighter than competition in class (126 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not offer selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic support
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FH7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic FH7
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-FS22
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2018-02-08 2011-09-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VIII Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Highest enhanced ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 121 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter rate 8.6fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 380g (0.84 pounds) 126g (0.28 pounds)
Physical dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 95 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 350 pictures 260 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $599 $149