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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX7V

Portability
89
Imaging
53
Features
63
Overall
57
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX7V Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(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
Sony HX7V
(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
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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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Sony HX7V

 E-PM2 HX7V 
AnnouncedMay 2013July 2011More 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 resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Sony HX7V

 E-PM2 HX7V 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX7V size comparison

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 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX7V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX7V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX7V as a Portrait photography camera
71
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW files
30
megapixel count good (16MP)
no manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography details
Sony HX7V Street photography details
79
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
features touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
screen does not articulate
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography factors
Sony HX7V Sports photography factors
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect AF
39
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography details
Sony HX7V Travel photography details
66
features touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
no Timelapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly screen
67
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography information
Sony HX7V Landscape photography information
74
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
no Timelapse recording
42
fairly wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging info
Sony HX7V Vlogging info
36
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
no external microphone support
32
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have external mic socket
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX7V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Sony HX7V
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Sony 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