Decision tools · Compare
OM-D E-M1 vs PEN E-PL7
Quick take: The OM-D E-M1 has the highest resolution at 16MP; the OM-D E-M1 is the most affordable; only the OM-D E-M1 is weather sealed.
Where the OM-D E-M1 wins
- Price: £104 used
- Resolution: 16.3MP
- Burst Rate: 10fps (6.5fps with continuous AF)
- Weather Sealed: Yes
- Portrait: 5.8 vs 4.6
Where the PEN E-PL7 wins
- Weight: 357g (with battery)
- Street: 6.6 vs 6.0
16 specs side by side·13 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video, Clifton Cameras, MPB, eBay and Amazon UK
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more
Size comparedbody only, no lens · drawn to one scale
- OM-D E-M1 130 × 94 × 63 mm · 497 g
- PEN E-PL7 115 × 67 × 38 mm · 357 g
The PEN E-PL7 is 15 mm narrower, 27 mm shorter, 25 mm slimmer and 140 g lighter than the OM-D E-M1.
Drawn to scale from the makers' dimensions (W × H × D). Front shown, depth on the slanted edge.
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | OM-D E-M1Olympus · 2013 | PEN E-PL7Olympus · 2014 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £104 usedBest | £105 used |
| Sensor | 16.3MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS | 16.1MP Four Thirds Live MOS |
| Resolution | 16.3MPBest | 16.1MP |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/30 | Full HD 1080p/30 |
| Autofocus | Dual Fast AF: 37-point on-sensor phase detect + 81-area contrast AF, face and eye detection | Contrast-detect AF (FAST AF), 81 areas, face / eye detection |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis in-body stabilisation, 4 stops (CIPA) | Sensor-shift in-body stabilisation |
| Burst Rate | 10fps (6.5fps with continuous AF)Best | 8fps |
| Battery Life | ~350 shots (CIPA) | ~350 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 497g (with battery) | 357g (with battery)Best |
| Dimensions | 130.4 × 93.5 × 63.1mm | 114.9 × 67 × 38.4mm |
| Weather Sealed | YesBest | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | OLED EVF, 2.36M dots, 1.48x | None built in (optional VF-4) |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" tilting touchscreen (flips down 180°), 1.04M dots |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds |
| Memory Cards | Single SD slot | Single SD slot |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0 multi-connector, micro HDMI, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack, RM-UC1 remote | USB, micro HDMI, hot shoe, Accessory Port 2, Wi-Fi |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
OM-D E-M1
PEN E-PL7
Portrait
5.8/10
4.6/10
Street
6.0/10
6.6/10
Travel
5.8/10
5.8/10
Wedding & Events
4.8/10
3.3/10
Documentary
5.1/10
3.4/10
Sports & Action
6.0/10
4.4/10
Landscape
4.6/10
4.1/10
Wildlife
6.7/10
5.2/10
Casual
4.4/10
4.6/10
Food
5.6/10
5.5/10
Macro
6.9/10
5.1/10
Architecture
4.3/10
4.3/10
Astrophotography
5.4/10
3.8/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
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