Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic GM5

Cameras
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic GM5

4/3 224.9mm²
16.1 megapixels
ISO 200 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Olympus E-PL7 Review.
How does it shoot? Olympus E-PL7 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the E-PL7.
Compare Olympus E-PL7 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Olympus E-PL7 conclusion.

4/3 224.9mm²
16.0 megapixels
ISO 200 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Panasonic GM5 Review.
How does it shoot? Panasonic GM5 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the GM5.
Compare Panasonic GM5 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Panasonic GM5 conclusion.

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Differences

Olympus E-PL7 advantages over Panasonic GM5

Less expensive
$600 vs $899 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Fast startup
~0.50 vs 1.0 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
E-PL7 test data on DxO Mark GM5 test data on DxO Mark

873 vs 721 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

350 vs 220 shots
Capture more photos
More telephoto lens reach
84 mm vs 64 mm
Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
Higher max flash sync
1/250 vs 1/50 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Faster JPEG shooting
8.7 fps vs 5.7 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
8.7 fps vs 4.9 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
17 vs 7 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Panasonic GM5 advantages over Olympus E-PL7

Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Lighter weight
294g vs 469g
Lighter weight
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Wider angle kit lens
24 mm vs 28 mm
Capture more of the scene with the included lens
Bigger JPEG buffer
56 vs 24 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Internal flash
Neither provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Adorama
Read E-PL7 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read GM5 User Reviews

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Body Only
Kit with 14-42mm Lens

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Buy the Panasonic GM5

Panasonic GM5

Review Excerpt

Excellent image quality for its class including very good ISO performance; Improved performance and ergonomics over the E-PL5; LCD tilts 180 degree downward for easier selfies; Upgraded 3-axis IS system.
No built-in flash (but a small add-on flash is included); No built-in EVF; Default colors somewhat muted; Somewhat quirky menu system.
Read our Olympus E-PL7 Review

Great image quality for a tiny camera; Excellent high ISO for its class; Built-in EVF; Built-in hot-shoe; Improved ergonomics; Improved image quality for long exposures; Improved burst rate with hybrid shutter; 1080/60p video.
Slightly bigger than GM1 (but not by much); No built-in flash; Shallow buffers with RAW files; Dynamic range not quite as good as some competing models; Below average battery life.
Read our Panasonic GM5 Review

The Competition

Compared to Olympus E-PL5

Olympus E-PL7

Olympus E-PL5

$399
4/3

Focus peaking
Fast startup

$329
4/3

Compare Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus E-PL5

Panasonic GM5

Olympus E-PL5

$898
4/3

Focus peaking
Eye-level viewfinder

$329
4/3

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Panasonic GM5 vs Olympus E-PL5

Compared to Panasonic GF6

Olympus E-PL7

Panasonic GF6

$399
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$400
4/3

In-camera panoramas
NFC

Compare Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic GF6

Panasonic GM5

Panasonic GF6

$898
4/3

Focus peaking
Eye-level viewfinder

$400
4/3

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

Compare Panasonic GM5 vs Panasonic GF6

Compared to Panasonic GM1

Olympus E-PL7

Panasonic GM1

$399
4/3

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$479
4/3

Internal flash
Shoots 24p video

Compare Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic GM1

Panasonic GM5

Panasonic GM1

$898
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
In-camera panoramas

$479
4/3

Less expensive
Internal flash

Compare Panasonic GM5 vs Panasonic GM1

Compared to Panasonic GF7

Olympus E-PL7

Panasonic GF7

$399
4/3

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Fast startup

$590
4/3

In-camera panoramas
Internal flash

Compare Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic GF7

Panasonic GM5

Panasonic GF7

$898
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
Hot shoe

$590
4/3

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

Compare Panasonic GM5 vs Panasonic GF7

Compared to Olympus E-PL8

Olympus E-PL7

Olympus E-PL8

$399
4/3

$599
4/3

Compare Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus E-PL8

Panasonic GM5

Olympus E-PL8

$898
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
In-camera panoramas

$599
4/3

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Panasonic GM5 vs Olympus E-PL8

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