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Olympus E-PL7

 
Olympus PEN E-PL7 front
 
Portability
86
Imaging
53
Features
81
Overall
64

Olympus E-PL7 summary

Olympus E-PL7 is Olympus's Entry-Level Mirrorless digital camera originally released on September of 2014. The camera has a 16MP, CMOS Four Thirds sized sensor and has a full resolution of 4608 x 3456.

Olympus introduced this model in an effort to replace the earlier Olympus E-PL6 (Read Full Comparison) and then brought out the more recent Olympus E-PL8 (Read Full Comparison) in an effort to update this camera.

The E-PL7 is rated #39 out of 117 in Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras and overall #245 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our database. Please check our Advanced camera finder to get camera ratings based on your personalized criteria.

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Here is a graph of different factors used in the rating system.

Olympus E-PL7 history

The Olympus E-PL7 is part of a family of products. You can read the complete range below.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Olympus-PEN-E-P7 front thumbnailOlympus E-P7
E-PL7 vs E-P7
20MPFour Thirds8.7 fps2021
Olympus-OM-D-E-M10-IV front thumbnailOlympus E-M10 IV
E-PL7 vs E-M10 IV
20MPFour Thirds8.7 fps2020
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes
Olympus-PEN-E-PL9 front thumbnailOlympus E-PL9
E-PL7 vs E-PL9
16MPFour Thirds8.6 fps2018
Olympus-OM-D-E-M10-Mark-III front thumbnailOlympus E-M10 III
E-PL7 vs E-M10 III
16MPFour Thirds8.6 fps2017
Olympus-PEN-E-PL8 front thumbnailOlympus E-PL8
E-PL7 vs E-PL8
16MPFour Thirds8.0 fps2016
Olympus-OM-D-E-M10-II front thumbnailOlympus E-M10 II
E-PL7 vs E-M10 II
16MPFour Thirds8.0 fps2015
Photography Glossary
Olympus-PEN-E-PL7 front thumbnailOlympus E-PL716MPFour Thirds8.0 fps2014
Olympus-PEN-E-PL6 front thumbnailOlympus E-PL6
E-PL7 vs E-PL6
16MPFour Thirds8.0 fps2014
Olympus-OM-D-E-M10 front thumbnailOlympus E-M10
E-PL7 vs E-M10
16MPFour Thirds8.0 fps2014
Olympus-PEN-E-P5 front thumbnailOlympus E-P5
E-PL7 vs E-P5
16MPFour Thirds9.0 fps2013
Olympus-PEN-E-PM2 front thumbnailOlympus E-PM2
E-PL7 vs E-PM2
16MPFour Thirds8.0 fps2013
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Olympus-PEN-E-PL5 front thumbnailOlympus E-PL5
E-PL7 vs E-PL5
16MPFour Thirds8.0 fps2012
Olympus-PEN-E-PM1 front thumbnailOlympus E-PM1
E-PL7 vs E-PM1
12MPFour Thirds6.0 fps2011
Olympus-PEN-E-PL3 front thumbnailOlympus E-PL3
E-PL7 vs E-PL3
12MPFour Thirds6.0 fps2011
Olympus-PEN-E-P3 front thumbnailOlympus E-P3
E-PL7 vs E-P3
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2011
Olympus-PEN-E-PL2 front thumbnailOlympus E-PL2
E-PL7 vs E-PL2
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2011
Olympus-PEN-E-PL1s front thumbnailOlympus E-PL1s
E-PL7 vs E-PL1s
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2010
Olympus-PEN-E-PL1 front thumbnailOlympus E-PL1
E-PL7 vs E-PL1
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2010
Olympus-PEN-E-P2 front thumbnailOlympus E-P2
E-PL7 vs E-P2
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2010
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards
Olympus-PEN-E-P1 front thumbnailOlympus E-P1
E-PL7 vs E-P1
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2009

Olympus E-PL7 Pros and Cons

Below is a checklist of good and bad points of the Olympus E-PL7 based on factors that are generally regarded as useful in a digital camera.

above average high ISO (25,600)
above average minimum ISO (100)
boasts touch to focus
delivers RAW formats
has face detect focusing
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has tracking focus
includes HDMI socket
manual focus
nice clear screen (1,037 thousand dots)
screen is selfie friendly
screen size is decent (3")
screen tilts up and down
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
touchscreen capability
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have phase detect AF
no headphone socket
no mic socket
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Olympus E-PL7 Sensor specifications

The Olympus E-PL7 features the TruePic VII processor. The specification of the sensor in the Olympus E-PL7 is 17.3mm x 13mm (Four Thirds). The 225 mm² sensor can capture 4608 x 3456 pixels and aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera includes Image Stabilization (Sensor based). Sensor stabilization is more effective than digital stabilization as the latter may produce cropping.

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The CMOS sensor boasts 16 megapixels and has a standard ISO range of 100 - 25600. RAW photos are saved which means that the user has wider room to maneuver in post.

The graphic below displays the E-PL7's sensor dimensions compared to other popular sizes. The E-PL7 sensor comes with a crop factor of 2.1 and is shown in green.

Olympus PEN E-PL7 sensor size Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

To get an understanding of different aspect ratios, you should refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Olympus E-PL7 dimensions

Olympus E-PL7 weighs in at 0.79 pounds (357g / 12.59 ounces) and features outer proportions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5"). The weight of average Entry-Level Mirrorless camera is 329g so the Olympus E-PL7 is similar compared to its rivals.

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Listed below is a pic of the Olympus E-PL7 with a soda to help you to have a sense of its scale.

Olympus PEN E-PL7 dimensions scale

The top view below will provide the button design on the E-PL7.

Olympus PEN E-PL7 topview buttons dials

Olympus E-PL7 Lens specifications

The E-PL7 works with the Micro Four Thirds mount and has 162 lenses on the market today. Below is a few of the lenses we have in our collection which will fit the E-PL7.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Panasonic-Lumix-G-Vario-14-42mm-F3.5-5.6-ASPH-OIS lensPanasonic Lumix G Vario 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH OIS14-42mmf/3.5-5.6 165g
Rokinon-35mm-f1.4-Four-Thirds lensRokinon 35mm f1.435mmf/1.4 660g
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Olympus-M.Zuiko-Digital-ED-40-150mm-f4-5.6-R lensOlympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f4-5.6 R40-150mmf/4.0-5.6 190g
Panasonic-Lumix-G-Vario-14-42mm-F3.5-5.6-II-ASPH-Mega-OIS lensPanasonic Lumix G Vario 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 II ASPH Mega OIS14-42mmf/3.5-5.6 110g
Olympus-M.Zuiko-Digital-ED-150-400mm-F4.5-TC-1.25x-IS-PRO lensOlympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC 1.25x IS PRO150-400mmf/4.5 1850g
Olympus-Zuiko-Digital-ED-40-150mm-f4.0-5.6 lensOlympus Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f4.0-5.640-150mmf/4.0-5.6 220g
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Sigma-24mm-F1.8-EX-DG-Aspherical-Macro-Four-Thirds lensSigma 24mm F1.8 EX DG Aspherical Macro24mmf/1.8 485g
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Olympus E-PL7 Connectivity

The E-PL7 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Digital cameras that incorporate NFC and / or Bluetooth compatibility can easily be controlled wirelessly with smartphones. You can send files and at times change camera settings without connecting directly to the camera.

Many applications even enable a Liveview and release the shutter in case you are not near the camera. If the camera boasts a HDMI out, it could be attached to an external screen. The majority of cameras will allow you to recharge the battery pack through the USB port.

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Olympus E-PL7 Video specifications

The highest possible video quality in the Olympus E-PL7 is 1920 x 1080 and it can shoot in H.264 and Motion JPEG file format. 1080p quality will provide a decent balance for video quality and file sizes but 1080p is not going to give you much room to crop. The camera does not offer a mic and / or headphone jack which means you get little control over your sound. It is perhaps best to consider an alternative camera should you need decent sound in your videos.

Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL7 Weather Sealing

Olympus E-PL7 does not include environment sealing so damp conditions could ruin the camera.

Olympus E-PL7 Screen and Viewfinder

The Olympus E-PL7 has a 3 inch tilting screen supporting a resolution of 1,037 thousand dots.

It includes a selfie friendly screen to get self portraits and group shots when necessary. Moreover the screen is touch friendly which means that you will be able to set focus point and change settings using your fingertips.

Olympus PEN E-PL7 screen and viewfinder Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

The ViewFinder details regarding Olympus E-PL7 are the following:

  • ViewFinder Electronic (optional)

Viewfinders can be really helpful for bright outdoor conditions which can easily make the camera screen washed out and very difficult to view.

Olympus E-PL7 Shutter specifications

Olympus E-PL7 continuous shooting speed is 8.0 frames per second. The highest shutter speed is 1/4000 seconds.

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Olympus E-PL7 Flash and Hot shoe specifications

Olympus E-PL7 includes external flash support but is lacking built-in flash.

Olympus E-PL7 Autofocus specifications

Olympus E-PL7 includes just Contrast Based Auto Focus and doesn't have Phase Detect Auto Focus. Phase Detection focusing is a lot quicker & precise when compared to Contrast Based focusing. The camera has Face detection making it handy for portraits.

The Sensor has 81 focus points to choose from. Olympus E-PL7 has touch to focus. You are able to use your fingers in order to switch where you focus. It also features Tracking Auto Focus for subjects on the move. Olympus E-PL7 has got manual focusing in case it is needed for low light scenarios or you need more exact focusing control.

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Olympus E-PL7 Battery life

The battery life (BLS-50) for the Olympus E-PL7 is built to last for 350 clicks as per the CIPA requirements which is comparable with its competitors. The average Entry-Level Mirrorless camera battery life is 343. Fujifilm X-S20 offers the best (750) battery life for this category of cameras.

Listed below is a listing of Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras with the highest battery life:

Olympus E-PL7 for different styles of photography

The following graph provides a rundown of the Olympus E-PL7 for different styles of photography. To learn more, have a look at the specific section below.

Olympus E-PL7 Portrait photography details

The Olympus E-PL7 has a score of 71 which is above average, meaning that it is a good pick for portrait photography. Taking portraits favors heavily to sensor dimensions, RAW support & option to work with external flash.

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focusing manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW files

Street photography with Olympus E-PL7

With a brilliant points tally of 84, the Olympus E-PL7 is a fantastic choice to buy for street photography. A good street photography camera provides a good balance of picture quality and portability.

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screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
offers focus via touch
very good high ISO (25,600)

Olympus E-PL7 Sports photography features

A nice sports photography score of 66 suggests the Olympus E-PL7 is a good option for photographing sports. A camera should have great autofocus plus fast continuous shooting for sports photography.

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built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect auto focus

Olympus E-PL7 Travel photography details

Size is pretty important when picking a camera for travel. In general, the Olympus E-PL7 gets a outstanding 85 as a travel camera which is a brilliant fit to take with you on your vacations.

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supports touch to focus
good resolution (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly display

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL7

For anybody who is planning to purchase a camera for landscape photos, the most important aspect will no doubt be image quality. The Olympus E-PL7 with it's terrific score of 79 for a landscape camera is a fantastic fit among it's competitors.

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manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats

Olympus E-PL7 Vlogging highlights

A camera for vlogging really should posses a moving screen, microphone input and if possible IBIS. Considering all the details, the Olympus E-PL7 is a terrific pick as a vlog camera as it delivers a great rating of 78.

Photography Glossary
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
missing microphone support

Olympus E-PL7 Alternatives

If you are shopping for replacements to the E-PL7, below is a range of the top placed cameras that fall within the category of Entry-Level Mirrorless.

The graph below will give you a bird's eye view of the E-PL7 vs it's top rated competitors listed earlier.

Following are additional cameras you may see as alternate options. To read through a thorough comparison, visit the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand
Olympus
Model type
Olympus PEN E-PL7
Category
Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced
2014-09-01
Physical type
Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Processor
TruePic VII
Sensor size
Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions
17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area
224.9mm²
Sensor resolution
16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution
4608 x 3456
RAW photos
Maximum native ISO
25600
Lowest native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points
81
Lens
Lens mount type
Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses
107
Crop factor
2.1
Screen
Screen type
Tilting
Screen size
3"
Screen resolution
1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
Electronic (optional)
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating
72
DXO Color Depth rating
22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating
12.4
DXO Low light rating
873
Features
Minimum shutter speed
60 secs
Fastest shutter speed
1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate
8.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation
Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance
no built-in flash
Flash modes
no built-in flash
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions
1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution
1920x1080
Video format
H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
357g (0.79 lbs)
Physical dimensions
115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5")
Other
Battery life
350 photographs
Battery type
Battery Pack
Battery ID
BLS-50
Self timer
Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots
One
Launch price
$499