Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX7V
89 Imaging
52 Features
63 Overall
56


92 Imaging
39 Features
37 Overall
38
Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX7V Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 200 - 25600
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
- Announced May 2013
- Succeeded the Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
- 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 125 - 3200
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
- 208g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
- Announced July 2011

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX7V Overview
Lets look more closely at the Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX7V, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the HX7V (16MP) is very similar but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and HX7V (1/2.3") posses different sensor sizing.

The E-PM2 was announced 23 months after the HX7V making them a generation away from one another. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX7V being a Compact camera.
Before delving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the E-PM2 scores against the HX7V in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX7V Gallery
Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PM2 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-PM2 Gallery & Sony HX7V Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Sony HX7V
E-PM2 | HX7V | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Announced | May 2013 | ![]() | July 2011 | More modern by 23 months |
Manually focus | ![]() | More precise focus | ||
Touch display | ![]() | Easily navigate |
Reasons to pick Sony HX7V over the Olympus E-PM2
HX7V | E-PM2 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display resolution | 921k | ![]() | 460k | Clearer display (+461k dot) |
Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Sony HX7V
E-PM2 | HX7V | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Display size | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Same display measurement |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither provides selfie screen |
Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX7V Physical Comparison
If you are going to carry around your camera, you have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM2 provides exterior measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Sony HX7V has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).
Take a look at the Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX7V in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you use at that time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PM2 versus the HX7V.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM2 and HX7V is 89 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX7V Sensor Comparison
Normally, it is difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizes purely by going over technical specs. The picture below might give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM2 and HX7V.
As you can tell, each of the cameras come with the identical megapixels but different sensor sizes. The E-PM2 provides the larger sensor which is going to make obtaining bokeh less difficult. The younger E-PM2 should have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX7V Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX7V Specifications
Olympus PEN E-PM2 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Olympus | Sony |
Model | Olympus PEN E-PM2 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V |
Type | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Small Sensor Compact |
Announced | 2013-05-21 | 2011-07-19 |
Physical type | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | - | BIONZ |
Sensor type | CMOS | BSI-CMOS |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | 1/2.3" |
Sensor dimensions | 17.3 x 13mm | 6.17 x 4.55mm |
Sensor surface area | 224.9mm² | 28.1mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16MP | 16MP |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 | 4:3 and 16:9 |
Full resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 4608 x 3456 |
Max native ISO | 25600 | 3200 |
Minimum native ISO | 200 | 125 |
RAW images | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch focus | ||
Continuous AF | ||
AF single | ||
Tracking AF | ||
AF selectice | ||
AF center weighted | ||
AF multi area | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detect AF | ||
Contract detect AF | ||
Phase detect AF | ||
Number of focus points | 35 | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | Micro Four Thirds | fixed lens |
Lens focal range | - | 25-250mm (10.0x) |
Maximal aperture | - | f/3.5-5.5 |
Amount of lenses | 107 | - |
Crop factor | 2.1 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Type of display | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Display sizing | 3 inch | 3 inch |
Resolution of display | 460 thousand dots | 921 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch display | ||
Display technology | - | XtraFine LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Electronic (optional) | None |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 60 seconds | 30 seconds |
Highest shutter speed | 1/4000 seconds | 1/1600 seconds |
Continuous shooting rate | 8.0fps | 10.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual mode | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash range | 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) | 4.80 m |
Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) | Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync |
Hot shoe | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Highest flash synchronize | 1/250 seconds | - |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment exposure | ||
Average exposure | ||
Spot exposure | ||
Partial exposure | ||
AF area exposure | ||
Center weighted exposure | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Max video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
Video file format | MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG | MPEG-4, AVCHD |
Mic port | ||
Headphone port | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Eye-Fi Connected | Eye-Fi Connected |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | BuiltIn |
Physical | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 269g (0.59 pounds) | 208g (0.46 pounds) |
Physical dimensions | 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") | 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around score | 72 | not tested |
DXO Color Depth score | 22.7 | not tested |
DXO Dynamic range score | 12.2 | not tested |
DXO Low light score | 932 | not tested |
Other | ||
Battery life | 360 photographs | - |
Style of battery | Battery Pack | - |
Battery model | BLS-5 | NP-BG1 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Storage type | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo |
Card slots | One | One |
Cost at launch | $448 | $499 |