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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS7

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 front
Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
33
Overall
34

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS7 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Released February 2018
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL8
Panasonic ZS7
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 218g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Announced July 2011
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ10
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS8
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS7 Overview

Here is a detailed overview of the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic ZS7, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the E-PL9 (16MP) and ZS7 (12MP) and the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and ZS7 (1/2.3") feature different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL9 was released 6 years later than the ZS7 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS7 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a short summation of how the E-PL9 grades vs the ZS7 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Panasonic ZS7

 E-PL9 ZS7 
AnnouncedFebruary 2018July 2011Fresher by 80 months
Manually focus More exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k460kSharper display (+580k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS7 over the Olympus E-PL9

 ZS7 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic ZS7

 E-PL9 ZS7 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS7 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera, you need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL9 has outside 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 ZS7 has measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic ZS7 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-PL9 and the ZS7.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS7 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL9 and ZS7 is 85 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS7 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's difficult to picture the gap in sensor sizing just by checking out specifications. The graphic below should give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL9 and ZS7.

To sum up, each of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL9 featuring a larger sensor is going to make getting bokeh easier and the Olympus E-PL9 will provide greater detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a little more aggressively. The more modern E-PL9 provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL9
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS7
73
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
21
no manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZS7 Street photography highlights
84
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
comes with touch to focus
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (218g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS7 as a Sports photography camera
69
quiet shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
does not have phase detect autofocus
27
image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL9
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS7
77
connects via bluetooth
comes with touch to focus
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
display isn't selfie friendly
63
lighter than competition in class (218g)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
very long reach (300mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS7 as a Landscape photography camera
80
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
38
rather wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging info
Panasonic ZS7 Vlogging info
35
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of microphone jack
30
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (218 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic support
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic ZS7
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ10
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2018-02-08 2011-07-19
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII Venus Engine HD II
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 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW support
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 121 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,040k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
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 rate 8.6 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 5.30 m
Flash options Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD Lite
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 380 grams (0.84 lbs) 218 grams (0.48 lbs)
Dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photographs -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $599 $350