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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX7

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 front
Portability
86
Imaging
35
Features
61
Overall
45

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX7 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Revealed May 2013
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PM1
Panasonic LX7
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400 (Boost to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-90mm (F1.4-2.3) lens
  • 298g - 111 x 68 x 46mm
  • Announced October 2012
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic LX5
  • New Model is Panasonic LX10
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX7 Overview

Here, we are analyzing the Olympus E-PM2 versus Panasonic LX7, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PM2 (16MP) and LX7 (10MP) and the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and LX7 (1/1.7") provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PM2 was launched 8 months later than the LX7 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LX7 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a detailed comparison, here is a short summation of how the E-PM2 matches up versus the LX7 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Panasonic LX7

 E-PM2 LX7 
AnnouncedMay 2013October 2012More recent by 8 months
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic LX7 over the Olympus E-PM2

 LX7 E-PM2 
Display resolution920k460kCrisper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic LX7

 E-PM2 LX7 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX7 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera frequently, you need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-PM2 provides outer measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Panasonic LX7 has specifications of 111mm x 68mm x 46mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PM2 versus Panasonic LX7 in our brand 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 using during that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the E-PM2 versus the LX7.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX7 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM2 and LX7 is 89 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX7 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements just by viewing technical specs. The graphic underneath might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM2 and LX7.

As you have seen, both of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PM2 due to its larger sensor will make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Olympus E-PM2 will render more detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos way more aggressively. The younger E-PM2 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography details
Panasonic LX7 Portrait photography details
71
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
supports RAW files
45
has manual focus
provides face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PM2
Street photography with Panasonic LX7
79
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
includes focus via touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
screen is fixed
58
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/1.7")
more heavy than competitors (298g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PM2
Sports photography with Panasonic LX7
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect AF
42
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (330 per charge)
low megapixels (10MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
no phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic LX7 Travel photography highlights
66
includes focus via touch
good resolution (16 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
64
better than average battery pack (330 per charge)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.4)
more heavy than competitors (298g)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic LX7 Landscape photography factors
74
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
57
has manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.4)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (330 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (10MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging advice
Panasonic LX7 Vlogging advice
36
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic socket
33
pretty wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.4)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone socket
more heavy than competitors (298 grams)
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic LX7
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-05-21 2012-10-15
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Highest enhanced ISO - 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-90mm (3.8x)
Maximum aperture - f/1.4-2.3
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 4.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 8.0fps 11.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 8.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 269g (0.59 pounds) 298g (0.66 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 111 x 68 x 46mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 50
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 20.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 11.7
DXO Low light rating 932 147
Other
Battery life 360 photos 330 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at release $448 $400