FIRST LOOK: Olympus PEN E-PL7

In summary

The E-PL7 has been designed for ‘connected’ photographers who like to shoot ‘selfies’ and share them online. It should also appeal to snapshooters who want the performance improvements a camera with a relatively large sensor can provide in a much smaller body.

Buyers may also appreciate the versatility associated with interchangeable lenses. Being significantly smaller than the smallest DSLRs (and many fixed-lens, ultra-zoom cameras), they are also suitable for travellers.

But while offering most (if not all) of the controls and functions provided in the higher-end OM-D cameras and having lower price tags, PEN cameras won’t suit photographers who require built-in viewfinders and weather-proofing. Like other PEN cameras, the E-PL7 has no viewfinder and lacks a built-in flash (although an optional EVF is available and a detachable FL-LM1 flash is bundled with the camera).

Full review

The E-PL7 is the first PEN-series camera to be announced since May 2013 and shares many features with the flagship E-P5 model unveiled at that time, along with the previous ‘Lite’ model, the E-PL6 (which didn’t make it to the local market). Olympus is promoting the new model as ‘the smart-phone lover’s ideal interchangeable-lens camera’, which seems fair as the Olympus Image Share (OI.Share) app has also been tweaked to provide stronger smart-phone integration and improved camera controls.  

Angled view of the PEN E-PL7 in silver with the 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 III EZ kit lens. (Source: Olympus.)

The new camera will be offered in black and silver with the 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 III EZ kit lens. It is scheduled for release in late September.
 

Who’s it For?
 The E-PL7 has been designed for ‘connected’ photographers who like to shoot ‘selfies’ and share them online. It should also appeal to snapshooters who want the performance improvements a camera with a relatively large sensor can provide in a much smaller body.

Buyers may also appreciate the versatility associated with interchangeable lenses. Being significantly smaller than the smallest DSLRs (and many fixed-lens, ultra-zoom cameras), they are also suitable for travellers.

But while offering most (if not all) of the controls and functions provided in the higher-end OM-D cameras and having lower price tags, PEN cameras won’t suit photographers who require built-in viewfinders and weather-proofing. Like other PEN cameras, the E-PL7 has no viewfinder and lacks a built-in flash (although an optional EVF is available and a detachable FL-LM1 flash is bundled with the camera).

Body Design
 Essentially, the E-PL7 is an amalgam of features from the E-P5 and OM-D E-M10. Although visibly smaller, its body design has the clean lines and metal construction of the E-P5. However, key internal components like the image processor and AF system are virtually identical to the E-M10’s.

The illustrations below show the front, back and top views of both cameras, with the E-P5 below the new E-PL7 for comparison.  

Front views of the PEN E-PL7(top) and PEN E-P5 cameras with no lens fitted. (Source: Olympus.)
 
 

Back views of the E-PL7(top) and E-P5. (Source: Olympus.)
 
 

Top views of the E-PL7(top) and E-P5. (Source: Olympus.)

From these illustrations it is easy to see a common design with relatively minor variations in the new camera. The front panel changes are largely cosmetic but include the removal of the front sub-dial and the shifting of the self-timer AF-assist LED to the opposite side of the lens mount.

The main dial has also been removed from the rear panel. Both dials are incorporated into a single command dial that surrounds the shutter button on the top panel. The lever switch surrounding the movie button on the E-P5 is gone, leaving a simple button that toggles movie recording on and off in the E-PL7.

A new Function (Fn) button sits where the main dial on the E-P5 was. Beside it is a magnify button. Both buttons can be used in playback mode for shifting between index and magnified views. The thumb rest on the new camera is smaller but the strap eyelets on the sides of the camera appear to be a little more solid than those on the E-P5.

The E-PL7 lacks a pop-up flash, which means more space can be devoted to the hot-shoe and speaker grille, which is visible to its left. The mode dial and shutter button are aligned in the new camera, instead of being slightly off-set. The mode dial settings are unchanged but the dial itself appears to be slightly larger and easier to read. The on/off lever on the E-P5 has changed to a simple button switch on the new camera.

What’s New?
 The most significant new feature of the E-PL7 is its touch-screen monitor, which has the same basic specifications as the E-M10’s screen (3-inch diagonal, 1,037,000-dot resolution, brightness adjustments). However, for the first time this screen flips down through 180 degrees to face forwards, enabling users to take self-portraits.

The PEN E-PL7, silver version, with the monitor flipped down for taking self-portraits. (Source: Olympus.)

Olympus says this design is more user-friendly because it enables the touch screen to be used without the photographer’s fingers intruding on the picture. It also allows the camera to be used single-handed with greater stability with assistance from the 3-axis IS system.

When the monitor is flipped down it automatically engages a special touch-selfie interface with camera controls optimised for easy recording of individual or group self-portraits. This includes setting the lens to its widest angle and adjusting shooting parameters for portraiture. Remote triggering from a smart device is also possible when the monitor is flipped down.

Olympus’ existing Wi-Fi integration has been updated with the release of the latest version of the Olympus Image Share (OI.Share) app, which is available via a free download. . Smart-phone linkage is the same as in the E-M10 and E-M1 cameras and compatible with both Android and iOS devices.

Two new Art Filters have been added to the existing palette: Vintage and Partial Colour. This increases the options available to 14. Like the existing Art Filters, both new additions are adjustable, with Partial Colour supporting both hue and saturation adjustments. The Vintage setting can be used to impart an ‘old film’ effect to movies.

Conclusion

The release of the PEN E-PL7 gives Olympus three models with features that will appeal to socially-active buyers who want compact cameras with premium styling and lenses appreciate the benefits of interchangeable lenses. The E-PL7, E-P5 and E-M10 cameras are all designed to provide greater control of picture-taking and easier image sharing.

Individual purchasers will be attracted to specific models on the basis of their aesthetics, functionality and price tag, with the more expensive E-M10 likely to be favoured over the PEN models by photographers who require a built-in viewfinder. All three cameras share the following features:

1. 17.3 x 13.0 mm LiveMOS sensor with 17.2 million photosites (16.1 megapixels effective)

2. JPEG, ORF.RAW & RAW+JPEG recording of still images; maximum resolution of 4608 x 3456 pixels

3. Movie recording is similar to other PEN and OM-D cameras, both MPEG-4AVC/H.264 and AVI/Motion JPEG formats available. Frame sizes in MOV format are: 1920×1080, 30p (29.97 fps at 20MbpsFine) / 17MbpsNormal); 1280×720, 30p at 13MbpsFine) / 10MbpsNormal).  The AVI/Motion JPEG format offers 1280×720, 30 fps, VGA at 30 fps. Soundtracks are recorded with Stereo linear PCM/16-bit audio with a sampling frequency of 48kHz.

4. Touch screen controls include shutter release, enlargement, Live Guide, AF area selection, AF area enlargement, frame forward/backward, enlargement playback, Super Control Panel, Art Filter selection, Scene mode selection and Wi-Fi connection.

5. Digital ESP metering (324-area multi pattern metering) with centre-weighted average and spot metering patterns plus, Spot metering with highlight or shadow control

6. Sensitivity range of ISO   LOW(approx.100), 200 – 25600, selectable in1/3 or 1 EV steps

7. Live View shooting with approx. 100% field of view, Exposure compensation preview, WB adjustment preview, Gradation auto preview, Face detection preview (up to 8 faces), Grid line, Histogram, Magnification display (x5/x7/x10/x14)

8. Auto white balance plus 7 presets: Sunny (5300K), Shadow (7500K), Cloudy (6000K), Incandescent (3000K), Fluorescent (4000K), Underwater, Flash (5500K), 2 Capture WBs and Custom WB(Kelvin setting); WB compensation is available in +/- 7 steps in each A-B/G-M axis

9. Picture Mode settings include i-Enhance, Vivid, Natural, Muted, Portrait, Monotone, Custom and Art Filters with Auto, Normal, High Key, Low Key gradation available [except Art Filters]

10. Wi-Fi integration supports Easy Connection via QR code setting, image sharing and remote camera control.

Features shared with the OM-D E-M10 include:
 1. The 81-point FAST-AF focusing system.
 2. The TruePic VII image processor.
3. The 3-axis VCM sensor-shift type (yaw/pitch/lens-axis roll) stabilisation system.
4. Continuous shooting capabilities, with a maximum capture rate of 8 frames/second for up to 16 ORF.RAW files (although JPEGs are no longer ‘unlimited’).
5. A shutter speed range of 60-1/4000 seconds plus support for interval recording for time-lapse photography, with the ability to record up to 999 frames in a sequence.
6. Support for Olympus Photo Story shooting mode with live-view multi-picture templates.

The table below compares the physical dimensions and battery capacities of the three cameras.

We hope to be able to publish a comprehensive review of the PEN E-PL7 when a production-quality model is available.

SPECS

 Image sensor: 17.3 x 13.0 mm Live MOS sensor with approx. 17.2 million photosites (16.1 megapixels effective)
 Image processor: TruePic VII
 A/D processing: 12-bit lossless compression
 Lens mount: Micro Four Thirds
 Focal length crop factor: 2x
 Image formats: Stills ““ ORF.RAW, JPEG, RAW+JPEG, MPO (3D stills); Movies ““ MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264), AVI (Motion JPEG)
 Image Sizes: Stills ““ 4608 x 3456, 3200 x 2400, 1280 x 960; Movies: [MOV]: 1920 x 1080, 30p at 24Mbps or 16 Mbps; HD: 1280 x 720, 30p at 12Mbps or 8 Mbps; [AVI]: 1280 x 720 @ 30fps,   640 x 480 @ 30 fps with Stereo linear PCM/16-bit, Sampling frequency 48kHz; Time-lapse movies: AVI Motion JPEG; 1280 x 720 at 10 fps
 Image Stabilisation: 3-axis sensor-shift type (yaw/pitch/lens-axis roll); 4 modes (S-I.S.AUTO, S-I.S.1, S-I.S.2, S-I.S.3), OFF; M-IS (sensor shift plus electronic stabilisation with multi-motion IS) for movies; up to 3.5EV shake compensation for stills and movies
 Dust removal: Supersonic Wave Filter
 Shutter speed range: 1/4000 to 60 seconds plus Bulb and Time; selectable exposure time (1/2/4/8/15/20/25/30 min.), with 8-min. default setting”,
 Exposure Compensation: +/- 5EV for stills or +/- 3EV for movies   in 1/3,   1/2 or 1EV increments
 Exposure bracketing: 2, 3 or 5 frames in 0.3/0.7/1.0EV steps selectable, 7 frames in 0.3/0.7EV steps selectable; AE-BKT can be programmed to the Fn-button
 Other bracketing options: ISO, white balance, flash exposures, Art Filters
 Self-timer: 2 or 12 seconds delay; Custom (Waiting time 1-30sec., Shooting interval 0.5/1/2/3sec., Number of shots 1-10)
 Focus system: 81-point FAST-AF, with 81-area multiple AF, all target and group target (9 area)   single target modes plus single-target (small); AF illuminator and peaking display (black or white edge) available
 Focus modes: Single AF (S-AF) / Continuous AF (C-AF) / Manual Focus (MF) / S-AF + MF / AF tracking (C-AF + TR) modes; magnify and focus peaking assists for manual focusing; magnified frame AF selectable from >800 AF points with x5, x7, x10 (default) and x14 selectable
 Exposure metering: TTL Image Sensor metering system with Digital ESP metering (324-area multi pattern metering),  Centre weighted average metering and Spot metering; spot metering with highlight / shadow bias available
 Shooting modes: iAuto, Program AE (Program shift available), Aperture priority AE, Shutter priority AE, Manual, Bulb, Time, Scene select AE (Portrait, e-Portrait, Landscape, Landscape + Portrait, Sport, Hand-held starlight, Night scene, Night + Portrait, Children, High Key, Low Key, DIS mode, Macro, Nature Macro, Candle, Sunset, Documents, Panorama, Fireworks, Beach & Snow; Fisheye, Wide-Angle and Macro Conversion, Panning, 3D), Art Filter
 Art Filters: Pop Art, Soft Focus, Pale & Light Colour, Light Tone, Grainy Film, Pin Hole, Diorama, Gentle Sepia, Cross Process, Dramatic Tone, Key Line, Watercolour, Partial Colour (selectable via colour ring), Vintage
 Art Effects: Soft Focus, Pin Hole, White Edge, Frame, Star Light, Blur, B&W Effect, Picture Tone (Sepia, Blue, Purple, Green), Shade (top & bottom or left & right)
 Picture Modes: i-Enhance, Vivid, Natural, Muted, Portrait, Monotone, Custom, e Portrait, colour Creator, Art Filters
 Photo Story: 13 standard frames, 3 fun frames,   3 speed frames, 6 zoom in/out frames and 4 layout patterns
 Colour space options: sRGB, Adobe RGB
 ISO range: AUTO ISO plus LOW (approx. 100) “ 25600 (customisable, Default: LOW-1600) Manual ISO : LOW, 200 – 25600, 1/3 or 1 EV steps selectable  
 White balance: Auto, Sunny (5300K), Shadow (7500K), Cloudy (6000K), Incandescent (3000K), Fluorescent (4000K), Flash (5500K), Underwater; Custom, Color temperature setting (Approx. 2000-14000K)
 Flash: Bundled FL-LM1 TTL flash, GN=7 (ISO100/m); X-synch at 1/250 second or slower; wireless flash control with up to 4 groups of compatible external flashguns
 Flash modes: Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual（1/1（FULL）~1/64）
 Flash exposure adjustment: +/-3 EV in 1/3, 1/2, or 1EV increments
 Sequence shooting: Max. approx. 8 shots/sec. for up to 16 ORF.RAW files or 36 JPEGs with a UHS-I certified SDHC or SDXC card
 Other features: HDR1/2 (4-shot auto composite) available with P, A, S and M mode plus bracketing of 3, 5 or 7 frames in post-process, Live Composite mode – frame stacking for exposures up to 3 hours
 Storage Media: Single slot for SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards; UHS-1 compatible
 Viewfinder: Optional VF-4 EVF
 LCD monitor: 3-inch 180-degree flip-down TFT colour LCD with approx. 1037 million dots, brightness adjustments & colour temperature control of +/-7 levels; electrostatic capacitance touch-screen controlsfor Shutter release, Enlargement, Live Guide, AF area selection, AF area enlargement and decrease, Frame forward/backward, Enlargement playback, Super Control Panel, Art Filter selection, Scene mode selection, Wi-Fi connection, Selfie shutter release
 Live View shooting: Live previews for exposure compensation, white balance, gradation, face detection (up to 8 faces) plus grid line, histogram and magnification (5x, 7x, 10x, 14x) displays, Highlight & Shadow, Level gauge
 Playback functions: Single-frame, Information display (Histogram – independent luminance / RGB available, Highlight/Shadow point warning, AF frame, Photographic information), Index display (4/9/25/100 frames), Calendar, Enlargement (2x – 14x), Movie (with sound, FF/REW/Pause), Picture rotation (auto), Slideshow (with BGM/BGM+Sound/Sound), Light box display
 Wi-Fi function: IEEE 802.11b/g/n; Live View, Rec View, Wireless Touch AF shutter (Control settings for aperture, shutter speed, exposure, ISO sensitivity, white balance and Drive Mode), Wireless Release, Power Off; Selectable from iAuto / ART / PASM (Live Bulb, Live Time)
 Power supply: BLS-50 rechargeable lithium-ion battery; CIPA rated for approx. 350 shots/charge
 Dimensions (wxhxd): Approx. 114.9 x 67 x 38.4 mm
 Weight: Approx. 357 grams (with battery & card)

RRP: AU $649 (body only); $849 (single-lens kit with 14-42mm EZ lens); $1049 (twin-lens kit with 14-42mm EZ   and 40-150mm lenses)

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