The Olympus PEN E-P7 is a high-performance mirrorless camera that packs a 20MP sensor and 5-axis image stabilization into a compact body. Optimized for travel and everyday shooting, this camera offers both portability and excellent image quality. In this review, we’ll take a detailed look at the PEN E-P7’s key features, performance, and real-world usage experience.
Olympus PEN E-P7 Key Specifications
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Sensor | 20.3MP Live MOS sensor (Micro Four Thirds) |
| Image Processor | TruePic VIII |
| Image Stabilization | 5-axis sensor-shift (up to 4.5 stops) |
| AF System | Contrast-detection, 121 points |
| ISO Sensitivity | 100-25600 (extended) |
| Continuous Shooting | Up to 8.7fps (mechanical shutter) |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080/60p |
| Monitor | 3-inch 180ยฐ tilting touchscreen (1.04M dots) |
| Viewfinder | None |
| Dimensions | 118.3 x 68.5 x 38.1 mm |
| Weight | Approx. 337g (including battery and memory card) |
๐จ Design and Ergonomics
The Olympus PEN E-P7 beautifully blends retro design with modern functionality. Its compact body features a premium metal finish, exuding elegance.
Compact Body and Portability
- Dimensions: 118.3 x 68.5 x 38.1 mm
- Weight: Approx. 337g (including battery and memory card)
One of the PEN E-P7’s biggest advantages is its excellent portability. Small and light enough to fit in a pocket, you can carry this camera anywhere, anytime. This is particularly advantageous for travel or street photography.
Ergonomic Grip and Operability
Despite its small size, Olympus has made efforts to provide a comfortable grip on the PEN E-P7. The slightly protruding front grip and rear thumb rest enable stable handling.
The two control dials on top, typically found on professional-grade cameras, allow for quick and intuitive setting changes. This enables rapid adjustment of shutter speed, aperture, ISO, etc., ensuring you don’t miss crucial moments.
Tilting Touchscreen
The 3-inch, 1.04M-dot tilting touchscreen allows shooting from various angles. It can flip up 180 degrees, making it particularly useful for selfies or vlogging. Touch operation enables intuitive AF point selection and menu navigation, greatly enhancing user experience.
๐ธ Image Quality and Performance
The PEN E-P7 features the same 20.3MP Live MOS sensor as Olympus’s professional-grade OM-D E-M1 Mark III, delivering impressive image quality considering its size.
Sensor and Image Processor
- Sensor: 20.3MP Live MOS sensor (Micro Four Thirds)
- Image Processor: TruePic VIII
This combination provides excellent detail and color reproduction. Performance is particularly impressive at low ISOs, with JPEG output showing Olympus’s signature crisp and vibrant colors.
ISO Performance
The PEN E-P7’s native ISO range is 200-6400, expandable to ISO 100-25600. Due to the Micro Four Thirds sensor characteristics, noise may be noticeable at high sensitivities, but image quality remains usable up to ISO 3200.
5-axis Image Stabilization System
Olympus’s renowned 5-axis image stabilization system shines in the PEN E-P7. Providing up to 4.5 stops of correction, it allows for sharp photos even at slow shutter speeds. This is particularly useful in low-light conditions or when using telephoto lenses.
Autofocus System
- AF Method: Contrast-detection
- AF Points: 121 points
The PEN E-P7’s autofocus system is fast and accurate. The 121 AF points densely cover the entire frame, allowing for precise focusing in various compositions. Face/eye detection AF is also supported, convenient for portrait photography.
Continuous Shooting Performance
The camera can shoot up to 8.7fps with the mechanical shutter and up to 15fps with the electronic shutter. This is sufficient for capturing moving subjects, making it usable for sports or wildlife photography.
๐ฌ Video Capabilities
The PEN E-P7 supports 4K video recording, enabling high-quality video production.
4K Video
- Maximum Resolution: 4K/30p (3840 x 2160)
- Bitrate: Approx. 102Mbps
4K footage is sharp and detailed, with the 5-axis stabilization allowing for stable handheld shooting.
Full HD High-Speed Recording
At 1080p resolution, shooting up to 60fps is possible, enabling smooth slow-motion video creation.
Video-Specific Features
- Time-lapse video
- Clip function (combine short video clips into a single video)
- Art filters (applicable to video as well)
However, the lack of a microphone input jack means external microphones cannot be connected, limiting its use for professional video production.
๐๏ธ User Experience and Features
The PEN E-P7 offers a range of features to satisfy users from beginners to advanced photographers.
Intuitive User Interface
Olympus’s menu system might seem complex at first, but with use, you’ll find it logically organized. The ability to register frequently used settings to a custom menu is particularly convenient.
Profile Control Dial
One of the PEN E-P7’s distinctive features is the profile control dial on the front. This allows quick switching between various shooting profiles such as color, black and white, and art filters.
Art Filters and Scene Modes
- 31 art filters
- 28 scene modes
The camera offers a variety of art filters and scene modes for creative shooting. These are particularly useful for creating content for social media.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Connectivity
Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth allow connection to smartphones for remote shooting or image transfer. These can be easily set up and used through Olympus’s OI.Share app.
Battery Life
The PEN E-P7 uses a BLS-50 battery and can shoot about 360 photos (CIPA standard) on a single charge. While this is relatively good, it’s advisable to carry spare batteries for all-day shooting sessions.
๐ Lens Compatibility and System Expandability
The PEN E-P7 uses the Micro Four Thirds mount, compatible with a wide range of lenses.
Choosing Micro Four Thirds Lenses
You can utilize the rich lineup of Micro Four Thirds lenses from Olympus and Panasonic. The following lenses pair particularly well with the PEN E-P7:
- Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 17mm f/1.8
- Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO
- Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4-5.6 R
Lens Expansion via Adapters
Using Micro Four Thirds adapters, you can also use Olympus’s existing Four Thirds lenses or lenses from other brands, further expanding your choices.
๐ก Comparison with Competitors
The PEN E-P7’s main competitors include:
- Fujifilm X-E4
- Sony Alpha A6100
- Panasonic Lumix GX9
Comparison with Fujifilm X-E4
While the Fujifilm X-E4 uses an APS-C sensor, providing an advantage in low-light performance, the PEN E-P7 offers a more compact size and better image stabilization system.
Comparison with Sony Alpha A6100
The Sony A6100 offers faster AF performance with its phase-detection AF system, but the PEN E-P7 provides a more intuitive operation system and better JPEG output quality.
Comparison with Panasonic Lumix GX9
While the GX9, using the same Micro Four Thirds system, offers a built-in EVF, the PEN E-P7 uses a newer sensor and processor, providing better overall performance.
๐ Pros and Cons Summary
Pros
- Compact and stylish design
- Excellent image quality (especially JPEG output)
- Effective 5-axis image stabilization system
- Intuitive operation system and customization options
- 4K video recording support
- Wide selection of Micro Four Thirds lenses available
Cons
- Lack of built-in viewfinder
- No microphone input jack
- Noise control at high ISOs somewhat lacking compared to full-frame
- Somewhat limited battery life
๐ฏ Conclusion: Purchase Recommendation and Suitable Users
The Olympus PEN E-P7 is an attractive camera that packs professional-grade performance into a compact size. It’s highly recommended for:
- Travel photographers: Light weight and excellent portability make it easy to carry on trips.
- Street photographers: Unobtrusive design allows for natural street shooting.
- Vloggers: 4K video recording and 180-degree rotating screen enable high-quality self-shooting.
- Beginners to intermediate users: Offers various options from auto mode to manual settings, aiding skill improvement.
However, for users primarily engaged in professional sports or wildlife photography, or high-quality video production, higher-end models in the OM-D series are recommended.
The PEN E-P7 is a product that encapsulates Olympus’s technology and know-how, ideal for users who want both the convenience of a compact camera and the performance of a professional-grade camera. If you’re seeking a perfect balance between portability and image quality, the PEN E-P7 is certainly worth considering.
Learn more about the PEN E-P7 on the Olympus official website
