Upgrade Guide

Olympus PEN E-PL7→Olympus OM-D E-M5

Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.

You own

Olympus

PEN E-PL7

£105 used

2014

→

Upgrade to

Olympus

OM-D E-M5

£40 used (-£64)

2012

⚖️

Situational

One clear hardware improvement over the PEN E-PL7. Worth it if that specific upgrade aligns with what you shoot.

What's new in the OM-D E-M5

Unchanged or similar

Suitability by genre

Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.

Full spec comparison

Spec	PEN E-PL7	OM-D E-M5
Price	£105 used	£40 used
Released	2014	2012	↓
Sensor	16.1MP Four Thirds Live MOS	16.1MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS
Resolution	16MP	16MP
Video	Full HD 1080p/30	Full HD 1080/60i
Autofocus	Contrast-detect AF (FAST AF), 81 areas, face / eye detection	Contrast-detect AF, 35 areas, face and eye detection
Stabilisation	Sensor-shift in-body stabilisation	5-axis in-body stabilisation
Burst Rate	8fps	9fps	↑
Battery Life	~350 shots (CIPA)	~360 shots (CIPA)	↑
Weight	357g (with battery)	425g (with battery)	↓
Weather Sealed	Not weather sealed	Yes	↑
Viewfinder	None built in (optional VF-4)	EVF, 1.44M dots
Screen	3.0" tilting touchscreen (flips down 180°), 1.04M dots	3.0" tilting OLED touch screen, 610k dots
Mount	Micro Four Thirds	Micro Four Thirds
Memory Cards	Single SD slot	Single SD slot

Compare side-by-side

See PEN E-PL7 and OM-D E-M5 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.

Get a personalised upgrade score

Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the OM-D E-M5 against your specific genres — not just specs.

Other upgrades from the PEN E-PL7

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Camera family history