Olympus PEN E-PL7 E-PL7 Black 2015
Sony Alpha a6500 Black 2016
What Buyers Say
Olympus PEN E-PL7 E-PL7 Black 2015
The Olympus PEN E-PL7 is highly praised for its compact size, excellent image quality, and compatibility with Micro Four Thirds lenses. Users appreciate its effective image stabilization, touch screen, and ease of use for both casual and advanced photography. Some note the autofocus struggles with moving subjects and the battery door feels flimsy, but overall it is seen as a versatile and reliable camera.
Pros
- Compact and lightweight body
- Excellent image quality
- Effective image stabilization
- Touch screen for precise control
- Compatibility with Micro Four Thirds lenses
Cons
- Autofocus struggles with moving subjects
- Flimsy battery compartment door
- No built-in viewfinder
- Limited programmable buttons
Sony Alpha a6500 Black 2016
The Sony a6500 draws strong praise for its compact design, 4K video quality, and fast autofocus, but a vocal minority of users report serious autofocus reliability issues that produce consistently blurry photos in auto mode. While many photographers love its low-light performance and IBIS, concerns about battery life, rolling shutter, missing accessories, and a stiffer lens mount appear in several reviews. Overall, the camera is well-regarded for its features, though quality control and the lack of GPS are notable frustrations.
Pros
- Excellent 4K video quality
- Compact and lightweight body
- Fast and snappy autofocus
- Great low-light performance
- In-body image stabilization (IBIS)
Cons
- Serious autofocus issues in auto mode
- Blurry photos reported by multiple users
- Short battery life
- Rolling shutter effect
- Stiff lens mount compared to NEX
Scores
Specifications
| Olympus PEN E-PL7 E-PL7 | Sony Alpha a6500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor | ||
| Type | MOS | Exmor CMOS |
| Size | micro-four-thirds | aps-c |
| Megapixels | 16.100000381469727 MP | 24.200000762939453 MP★ |
| ISO Range | 100 | 100 |
| Processor | TruePic VII | BIONZ X |
| Autofocus | ||
| AF Points | ||
| AF Type | 81 | Phase Detection: 425Contrast Detection: 169 |
| Eye AF | — | ✓★ |
| Animal AF | — | ✓★ |
| Subject Detection | — | ✓★ |
| Shooting | ||
| Burst (Mechanical) | 8 fps | 11 fps★ |
| Max Shutter | — | 1/4000 |
| Electronic Shutter | — | ✓★ |
| Video | ||
| Max Resolution | 1080p | 4K★ |
| 4K FPS | — | 30 fps★ |
| 1080p FPS | 30 fps | 120 fps★ |
| 10-bit | — | ✗ |
| Log Profile | — | ✓★ |
| RAW Video | ✓ | ✓ |
| Codec | — | XAVC S |
| Display & EVF | ||
| Screen Size | 3" | 3" |
| Touchscreen | ✓ | ✓ |
| Articulating | ✓ | ✓ |
| EVF Resolution | — | 2.4M dots★ |
| Build | ||
| Weather Sealed | — | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.31 kg | 0.16 kg★ |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | — | ✗ |
| USB | — | Micro-USB★ |
| HDMI | — | HDMI |
| Hot Shoe | ✓ | ✓ |
Pros & Cons
Olympus PEN E-PL7 E-PL7 Black 2015
- Strong display (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Strong af (77th percentile)
- Strong social proof (74th percentile)
- Below average build (11th percentile)11th %ile
- Below average sensor (12th percentile)12th %ile
Sony Alpha a6500 Black 2016
- Strong build (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong sensor (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong social proof (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong af (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (8th percentile)8th %ile
Pricing
Olympus PEN E-PL7 E-PL7 Black 2015 offers 1.2x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 77 overall, wins 10 of 10 usage categories and 15 of 31 specs.
