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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ7

Portability
85
Imaging
56
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 front
Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
41
Overall
39

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ7 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Launched February 2018
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL8
Panasonic SZ7
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 133g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Released January 2012
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ7 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic SZ7, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the SZ7 (14MP) is very well matched but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and SZ7 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL9 was launched 6 years after the SZ7 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ7 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a complete comparison, here is a short summary of how the E-PL9 matches up versus the SZ7 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Panasonic SZ7

 E-PL9 SZ7 
ReleasedFebruary 2018January 2012Newer by 75 months
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k460kClearer display (+580k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ7 over the Olympus E-PL9

 SZ7 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic SZ7

 E-PL9 SZ7 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ7 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to travel with your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL9 provides outer dimensions of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") and a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ7 has dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic SZ7 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PL9 versus the SZ7.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ7 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL9 and SZ7 is 85 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ7 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to see the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by checking technical specs. The pic below should give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL9 and SZ7.

As you have seen, both of those cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL9 due to its larger sensor will make getting bokeh easier and the Olympus E-PL9 will give you extra detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics more aggressively. The more recent E-PL9 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL9
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ7
73
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
delivers RAW files
34
good megapixels (14MP)
offers face detection autofocus
no manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography factors
Panasonic SZ7 Street photography factors
84
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
offers focus via touch
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (133 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography features
Panasonic SZ7 Sports photography features
69
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
lack of phase detect auto focus
44
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
offers tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography details
Panasonic SZ7 Travel photography details
77
supports bluetooth
offers focus via touch
good resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
does not offer selfie friendly display
70
lighter than competitors (133 grams)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic SZ7 as a Landscape photography camera
80
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
42
decently wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging details
Panasonic SZ7 Vlogging details
35
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
missing mic socket
35
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors (133 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not posses selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone support
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic SZ7
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2018-02-08 2012-01-09
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing 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 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Highest enhanced ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 121 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus distance - 4cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 8s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter rate 8.6 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 5.60 m
Flash settings 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
AEB
WB 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 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 380 gr (0.84 lbs) 133 gr (0.29 lbs)
Physical dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 220 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail price $599 $199