Decision tools · Compare

PEN E-PL7 vs A1 II

Quick take: The A1 II has the highest resolution at 50MP; the PEN E-PL7 is the most affordable; only the A1 II is weather sealed.

Where the PEN E-PL7 wins

  • Cheaper new: £105 vs £5,699
  • Weight: 357g (with battery)

Where the A1 II wins

  • Resolution: 50.1MP
  • Burst Rate: 30fps electronic (with full AF/AE), 10fps mechanical
  • Battery Life: ~530 shots (CIPA)
  • Weather Sealed: Yes
  • Portrait: 9.0 vs 4.6

16 specs side by side·15 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
0 25 50 75 100 125 A1 II 136 mm 97 mm PEN E-PL7 115 mm 67 mm
  • PEN E-PL7 115 × 67 × 38 mm · 357 g
  • A1 II 136 × 97 × 83 mm · 743 g

The PEN E-PL7 is 21 mm narrower, 30 mm shorter, 45 mm slimmer and 386 g lighter than the A1 II.

Drawn to scale from the makers' dimensions (W × H × D). Front shown, depth on the slanted edge.

Verdictwhich should you buy?

A1 II — Professional Sports, Wildlife & High-Resolution Studio Work: The most complete camera ever made — 50MP, 30fps, 8K, and the world's best EVF in a single flagship body.

Who should buy what
A1 II (2024)
is the right camera for you if…
  • Professional sports and wildlife photographers who need 30fps, 50MP, and the best AF available
  • Commercial and advertising photographers who demand 50MP resolution alongside pro video specs
  • Photojournalists who need a single body capable of handling every assignment
  • Sony system shooters ready to invest in the absolute best
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
Specification PEN E-PL7Olympus · 2014A1 IISony · 2024
Price £105 usedBest£5,699
Sensor 16.1MP Four Thirds Live MOS50.1MP full-frame stacked BSI CMOS
Resolution 16.1MP50.1MPBest
Video Full HD 1080p/308K/30p, 4K/120p 10-bit, S-Log3
Autofocus Contrast-detect AF (FAST AF), 81 areas, face / eye detectionAI subject recognition — human, animal, bird, insect, vehicle, aircraft, train
Stabilisation Sensor-shift in-body stabilisation8.5-stop IBIS (with in-lens OSS)
Burst Rate 8fps30fps electronic (with full AF/AE), 10fps mechanicalBest
Battery Life ~350 shots (CIPA)~530 shots (CIPA)Best
Weight 357g (with battery)Best743g (body only)
Dimensions 114.9 × 67 × 38.4mm136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm
Weather Sealed Not weather sealedYesBest
Viewfinder None built in (optional VF-4)EVF 0.9× 9.44M-dot — the highest resolution EVF available
Screen 3.0" tilting touchscreen (flips down 180°), 1.04M dots3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 2.1M dots
Mount Micro Four ThirdsSony E-mount (full-frame)
Memory Cards Single SD slotDual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slots
Connectivity USB, micro HDMI, hot shoe, Accessory Port 2, Wi-FiUSB-C 3.2 Gen 2, Wi-Fi 6GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, HDMI full-size

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
PEN E-PL7
A1 II
Portrait
4.6/10
9.0/10
Street
6.6/10
6.6/10
Travel
5.8/10
6.4/10
Wedding & Events
3.3/10
8.7/10
Documentary
3.4/10
8.3/10
Sports & Action
4.4/10
9.3/10
Landscape
4.1/10
8.0/10
Wildlife
5.2/10
9.2/10
Casual
4.6/10
5.3/10
Food
5.5/10
8.5/10
Macro
5.1/10
8.1/10
Architecture
4.3/10
8.4/10
Astrophotography
3.8/10
7.2/10
Vlogging & Video
—
6.4/10
Filmmaking
—
8.2/10

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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