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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FS7

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS7 front
Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FS7 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Introduced February 2018
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL8
Panasonic FS7
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 139g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2009
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FS7 Overview

The following is a complete comparison of the Olympus E-PL9 versus Panasonic FS7, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Ultracompact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference between the image resolutions of the E-PL9 (16MP) and FS7 (10MP) and the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and FS7 (1/2.5") enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL9 was introduced 9 years after the FS7 which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FS7 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going in to a complete comparison, below is a simple summary of how the E-PL9 scores vs the FS7 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Panasonic FS7

 E-PL9 FS7 
AnnouncedFebruary 2018January 2009Newer by 111 months
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1040k230kCrisper display (+810k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS7 over the Olympus E-PL9

 FS7 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic FS7

 E-PL9 FS7 
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FS7 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to travel with your camera often, you will need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL9 features outer dimensions of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") along with a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) while the Panasonic FS7 has proportions of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") with a weight of 139 grams (0.31 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL9 versus Panasonic FS7 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are employing at that time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the E-PL9 and the FS7.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FS7 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL9 and FS7 is 85 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FS7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FS7 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very hard to picture the gap between sensor dimensions just by reading through specifications. The picture below may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL9 and FS7.

To sum up, each of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL9 using its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-PL9 will resolve more detail using its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The newer E-PL9 should have an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FS7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FS7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FS7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL9
Portrait photography with Panasonic FS7
73
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW files
19
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography details
Panasonic FS7 Street photography details
84
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
comes with touch to focus
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic FS7 Sports photography highlights
69
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect AF
24
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FS7 as a Travel photography camera
77
supports bluetooth
comes with touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
51
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic FS7 Landscape photography highlights
80
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
lack of RAW support
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging information
Panasonic FS7 Vlogging information
35
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
high video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
no external mic port
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
missing mic jack
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FS7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic FS7
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS7
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS7
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Introduced 2018-02-08 2009-01-16
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VIII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.5"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Highest boosted ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW images
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 121 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 6.3
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 1,040k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Highest silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 8.6fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.60 m (at ISO 200) -
Flash settings Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 640x480
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 380g (0.84 lbs) 139g (0.31 lbs)
Dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 350 images -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $599 $160