OM SYSTEM PEN E-PL7 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera with 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II

The Olympus PEN E-PL7 is probably the most significant development in the PEN range since its launch in 2009. On the one hand Olympus needed to find a way to advance the PEN that wouldn't encroach on the territory of its advanced OMD mirrorless models.

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  Forward facing 3:2 touch-screen., Self shot modes., Wifi with smartphone remote control., 3-axis in-body stabilisation.

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  Poor quality kit lens judging from two samples., Screen can't flip forwards when tripod-mounted., Lack of touch buttons for changing selfie settings.

Olympus has managed to achieve quite an impressive feat with the E-PL7, namely taking a lot of the functionality from the enthusiast OM-D range and package it up for the more consumer end of the market.

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  Solid metal build; Touchscreen is certainly responsive; 16MP sensor delivers solid results

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  Small size means sacrifices have been made with usability; Tilting screen design is poor

The Olympus PEN E-PL7 is a compact Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera that hits a lot of the right notes, but it isn't quite an Editors' Choice.

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  Compact. Quick focus. 8.4fps burst rate. Micro Four Thirds lens system. In-body image stabilization. Tilting touch-screen display. Accessory port for optional EVF. Wi-Fi.

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  Sometimes slow to start and shoot. No support for 60fps video. Lacks standard mic input. Lacks built-in flash. Single control dial.

Olympus introduced their newest entry in the PEN interchangeable lens camera series in late August of this year (2014), which includes many of the performance features found in the more expensive OM-D series.

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  iAuto shooting mode is accurate and easy in all situations, Camera produces excellent overall image quality, Very compact and lightweight, easy to carry and operate, 3-axis IS is very handy and effective, High Res 3.0-inch LCD is great for shooting and viewing images, Screen tilts a full 180° for...

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  No built-in flash. Possible to forget external unit at home, No built-in OVF/EVF, although there is an optional EVF, Occasionally iAuto produced unreliable exposures with face detection

A likeable interchangeable-lens model, the Olympus PEN E-PL7's overall package makes an attractive alternative to an advanced compact and has quite a bit to offer as a first ILC.

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  With its flexible display, great set of controls and generally streamlined design, the Olympus PEN E-PL7 hits quite a few high notes.

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  It might be a little too complicated for newbies, and the grip could be bigger.

The Olympus E-PL7 brings significant upgrades to the popular PEN "lite" mirrorless camera line, most notably in the form of improved ergonomics and a more professional feel, bringing it more in line with the flagship E-P5.

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  Excellent image quality, with slightly improved JPEG rendering, Great high ISO performance for 4/3" sensor, Very good dynamic range for its class, Improved performance over the E-PL5 which was already fast (faster startup, AF and burst speeds), Improved buffer depth with faster clearing, Expanded...

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  Somewhat muted default colors (below average mean saturation), Auto WB too warm in incandescent lighting, No built-in flash (but a small external flash is included), Battery door prone to being knocked off due to irregular placement, Not compatible with NFC, Somewhat quirky menu systems, No built-in...

Much of the rest of the E-PL7 is familiar - it's based on a familiar sensor and the TruePic VII processor that offers very similar results to the chip used in the existing model. However, our early testing suggests the shutter shake isn't nearly as prominent as it had been on existing PEN models.

Olympus' new mid-range mirrorless camera, the PEN Lite E-PL7, is all but made for the selfie lover.The E-PL7's display flips downwards 180 degrees and provides an unobstructed view, and you can mount the bundled external flash for a fill-in flash. The display can also be flipped up 80 degrees.

Olympus' latest mid-range PEN combines high-end features and a compact body at an affordable price.

It's not often you stumble across cameras like this. It's like a In several days of shooting (a few hundred frames) I haven't encountered an instance of "shutter shock." The improved shutter seems to have eliminated that particular issue. So I love this new capability that I have now.

Even before doing the switch to m43, I knew that one of the advantages for me with m43 would be the ability to own a second, smaller camera, that I can carry with me everywhere more easily. So after getting used to my EM1 (and loving it!), I decided it was time to get the 2nd camera.