Olympus PEN E-PL7

    72
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    Highlights

    • 16.1 MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS Sensor
    • 100 - 25,600 Native ISO
    • 81 Focus Points
    • Image Stabilization
    • 3.0" 1,037k dot Tilting Screen
    • 8.0 fps Continuous Shooting
    • 1920 x 1080 Video Shooting
    • 30 min Video Recording Limit
    • Built-In Wi-Fi
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    Disclosure: We earn money from the affiliate links to products associated with content in this article.

    Overview

    Olympus PEN E-PL7 was announced in 2014 and is a Micro Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) Mirrorless camera with 16.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor. Its native ISO ranges from 100 to 25,600. The camera has a Tilting 3.0" screen with 1,037k dot resolution. It has a built-in Sensor Shift in body image stabilization.

    Olympus PEN E-PL7 can capture video up to 1920 x 1080 resolution.


    Here is the Olympus PEN series lineup, where you can view and compare the main specifications of the cameras within the same series.

    Olympus PEN series lineup
    Model Date Sensor Native ISO Screen Price
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-P7 June
    2021
    20 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    200 - 25,600 Tilting 3.0"
    1,040k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-PL9 February
    2018
    16.1 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    200 - 6,400 Tilting 3.0"
    1,040k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-PL8 September
    2016
    16.1 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    200 - 25,600 Tilting 3.0"
    1,037k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN-F January
    2016
    20 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    200 - 25,600 Articulated 3.0"
    1,037k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-PL7 September
    2014
    16.1 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    100 - 25,600 Tilting 3.0"
    1,037k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-PL6 August
    2014
    16 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    100 - 25,600 Tilting 3.0"
    460k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-P5 October
    2013
    16.1 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    100 - 25,600 Tilting 3.0"
    1,037k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-PM2 May
    2013
    16.1 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    200 - 25,600 Fixed 3.0"
    460k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-PL5 September
    2012
    16.1 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    200 - 25,600 Tilting 3.0"
    460k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-PM1 November
    2011
    12.3 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    100 - 12,800 Fixed 3.0"
    460k dot
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-PL3 September
    2011
    12.3 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    200 - 12,800 Tilting 3.0"
    460k dot
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-P3 August
    2011
    12.3 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    100 - 12,800 Fixed 3.0"
    614k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-PL2 February
    2011
    12 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    100 - 6,400 Fixed 3.0"
    460k dot
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-PL1s November
    2010
    12 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    100 - 6,400 Fixed 2.7"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-PL1 May
    2010
    12 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    100 - 3,200 Fixed 2.7"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-P2 April
    2010
    12 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    100 - 6,400 Fixed 3.0"
    230k dot
    Image cannot be found Olympus PEN E-P1 July
    2009
    12 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    100 - 6,400 Fixed 3.0"
    230k dot

    You can view their side-by-side comparison here: Olympus PEN E-P7 vs PEN E-PL9 vs PEN E-PL8 vs PEN-F vs PEN E-PL7 vs PEN E-PL6.

    Pros and Cons

    In this section we present pros and cons of Olympus PEN E-PL7.

    PROS

    •   Cheap
    •   Video Capture
    •   81 Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Face Detection
    •   Live View Autofocus
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Live Composition
    •   HDMI Output
    •   Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   Light - 357 g (0.79 lb / 12.59 oz)
    •   Orientation Sensor

    CONS

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
    •   Low Video Recording Limit
    •   No Microphone Input
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Built-In Bluetooth
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Short Battery Life - 350 shots

    And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

    AVERAGE

    •   Sensor Resolution - 16.1 Megapixel
    •   100 Lowest Native ISO
    •   25,600 Highest Native ISO
    •   Tilting Screen
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot
    •   Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/4000 sec
    •   Max Continuous Shooting - 8.0 fps
    •   DxO Overall Score - 72

    Predecessor

    Here we are comparing Olympus PEN E-PL7 to its predecessor PEN E-PL6 and displaying the major changes.

    UPGRADES Olympus PEN E-PL7 vs Olympus PEN E-PL6
    Higher Sensor Resolution 16.1 Megapixel vs 16 Megapixel
    More Focus Points 81 vs 35
    Center Autofocus vs
    Higher Resolution Screen 1,037k dot vs 460k dot
    Live Composition vs
    Built-In Wi-Fi vs Eye-Fi connection possible
    DOWNGRADES Olympus PEN E-PL7 vs Olympus PEN E-PL6
    Heavier 357 g (0.79 lb / 12.59 oz) vs 325 g (0.72 lb / 11.46 oz)
    Shorter Battery Life 350 shots vs 360 shots

    For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Olympus PEN E-PL7 vs PEN E-PL6.

    Screen and Viewfinder

    Tilting Touchscreen

    Olympus PEN E-PL7 has a 3.0" Tilting touchscreen with 1,037k dot resolution. Tilting screen makes this camera very useful for photography purposes but not so useful for video shooting.

    Camera does not have a built-in viewfinder but an optional electronic viewfinder can be attached.

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    Olympus PEN E-PL7 with Tilting screen

    Sensor

    Olympus PEN E-PL7 features a 16.1 megapixel Micro Four Thirds CMOS sensor with dimensions of 17.3 x 13 mm and a total area of 224.9 mm2. Its native ISO range is 100 - 25,600.


    Here is a sensor size comparison chart where you can see how Olympus PEN E-PL7's Micro Four Thirds sensor compares with other types of sensors:

    Sensor size chart
    Sensor Dimensions Area Aspect Ratio Crop Factor
    Image cannot be displayedMedium Format44 x 33 mm1452 mm24:30.79x
    Image cannot be displayedFull Frame36 x 24 mm864 mm23:21x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-H27 x 18 mm486 mm23:21.3x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-C23.6 x 15.6 mm368.2 mm23:21.5x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-C (Canon)22.3 x 14.9 mm332.3 mm23:21.6x
    Image cannot be displayedMicro Four Thirds17.3 x 13 mm224.9 mm24:32x
    Image cannot be displayed1-inch13.2 x 8.8 mm116.2 mm23:22.7x
    Image cannot be displayed1/1.7-inch7.44 x 5.58 mm41.5 mm24:34.7x
    Image cannot be displayed1/2.3-inch6.17 x 4.55 mm28.1 mm24:35.6x

    Photography Features

    Camera is equipped with TruePic VII processor and can take pictures up to 4608 x 3456 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolutions like 3200 x 2400, 1280 x 960 with 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 aspect ratios.


    Lens Mount

    Olympus PEN E-PL7 has Micro Four Thirds lens mount. Due to Micro Four Thirds sensor its crop factor (also called lens multiplier) is 2x. This means that a 35mm equivalent focal length of the mounted lens will be equal to its actual focal length times 2.


    In-Body Image Stabilization

    The camera has a built-in Sensor Shift in-body image stabilization (IBIS) with 3.5 stops of compensation. This means that you are still getting vibration reduction when camera is paired with non-image stabilizied lenses. It also works with lenses with optical image stabilization and in combination can achieve even better compensation.

    Check out the cameras which are frequently compared to Olympus PEN E-PL7.

    Connectivity, Battery and Storage

    Built-in Wi-Fi

    Camera has a built-in Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n, 2.4 GHz) which allows to easily transfer photos and videos from the camera to other Wi-Fi-enabled devices, such as smartphones, tablets, printers, or computers. This eliminates the need for cables and allows for quick and convenient media sharing and social media integration. It gives you the ability to control your camera remotely using a smartphone or tablet. This is particularly useful for taking self-portraits, group shots, or capturing images in challenging conditions without having to touch the camera. Firmware updates can also be downloaded and installed wirelessly.
      Check out the cameras in our database that have built-in WiFi.


    USB Input and HDMI Output

    Olympus PEN E-PL7 has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) input for data transfer. There is a Micro HDMI connector for video signal output.


    Battery

    Olympus PEN E-PL7 comes with BLS-50 battery pack with battery life of 350 shots.


    External Storage Slots

    The camera has a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot.

    Other Features

    Shutter

    Olympus PEN E-PL7's shutter speed can go up to 1/4000 sec. Camera can shoot continuously up to 8.0 fps.


    Exposure

    Camera's exposure metering ranges from -2 to +20 EV and you can set the exposure compensation within the ±5 EV range. You can also do exposure lock, exposure bracketing and manual exposure adjustment.


    Flash

    Olympus PEN E-PL7 has no built-in flash but an external flash may be connected via Hot Shoe.

    Physical Parameters

    Olympus PEN E-PL7 has dimensions of 115 x 67 x 38 mm (4.53 x 2.64 x 1.5"). It weighs 357 g (0.79 lb / 12.59 oz), so it is a lightweight camera.

    115 mm (4.53")

    67 mm (2.64")

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    67 mm (2.64")

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    38 mm (1.5")

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    Olympus PEN E-PL7 dimensions

    Olympus PEN E-PL7 for Different Types of Photography

    We give scores to the camera for different type of photography based on its features and specifications. Let us see how Olympus PEN E-PL7 is suitable for six different types of photography.


    Landscape Photography

    GOOD
    71

    Olympus PEN E-PL7 gets a score of 71 and is GOOD choice for Landscape photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing

    Sports Photography

    GOOD
    77

    Olympus PEN E-PL7 gets a score of 77 and is GOOD choice for Sports photography.

    •   25,600 Highest Native ISO
    •   81 Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Face Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot
    •   Max Continuous Shooting - 8.0 fps
    •   Short Battery Life - 350 shots
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Wildlife Photography

    GOOD
    71

    Olympus PEN E-PL7 gets a score of 71 and is GOOD choice for Wildlife photography.

    •   25,600 Highest Native ISO
    •   81 Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot
    •   Max Continuous Shooting - 8.0 fps
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Short Battery Life - 350 shots
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Portrait Photography

    EXCELLENT
    88

    Olympus PEN E-PL7 gets a score of 88 and is EXCELLENT choice for Portrait photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   81 Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Face Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Street Photography

    EXCELLENT
    88

    Olympus PEN E-PL7 gets a score of 88 and is EXCELLENT choice for Street photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   81 Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Tilting Screen
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 357 g (0.79 lb / 12.59 oz)

    Travel Photography

    EXCELLENT
    85

    Olympus PEN E-PL7 gets a score of 85 and is EXCELLENT choice for Travel photography.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Tilting Screen
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot
    •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
    •   Low Video Recording Limit
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 357 g (0.79 lb / 12.59 oz)
    •   Short Battery Life - 350 shots

    Olympus PEN E-PL7 Evaluation

    We evaluate Olympus PEN E-PL7 and give score of 72 out of 100. We also give separate scores for 7 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new camera is added to the database.


    OVERALL
    72

    Sensor

    AVERAGE
    67

    We give Olympus PEN E-PL7 a score of 67 for Sensor parameters.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Sensor Resolution - 16.1 Megapixel
    •   100 Lowest Native ISO
    •   25,600 Highest Native ISO
    •   DxO Overall Score - 72

    Photo

    GOOD
    79

    We give Olympus PEN E-PL7 a score of 79 for Photo parameters.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/4000 sec
    •   Max Continuous Shooting - 8.0 fps

    Video

    POOR
    48

    We give Olympus PEN E-PL7 a score of 48 for Video parameters.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
    •   Low Video Recording Limit

    Focusing

    GOOD
    79

    We give Olympus PEN E-PL7 a score of 79 for Focusing parameters.

    •   81 Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Face Detection
    •   Live View Autofocus

    Screen and Viewfinder

    EXCELLENT
    87

    We give Olympus PEN E-PL7 a score of 87 for Screen and Viewfinder parameters.

    •   Tilting Screen
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot

    Connectivity

    GOOD
    78

    We give Olympus PEN E-PL7 a score of 78 for Connectivity parameters.

    •   HDMI Output
    •   No Microphone Input
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   No Built-In Bluetooth

    Battery, Storage and Physical

    POOR
    42

    We give Olympus PEN E-PL7 a score of 42 for Battery, Storage and Physical parameters.

    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 357 g (0.79 lb / 12.59 oz)
    •   Short Battery Life - 350 shots


    For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:

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