Olympus E-PL7 Image Quality

At the base ISO of 200, the E-PL7 and E-PL5 produce very similar results which is to say excellent image quality for a 16-megapixel Four Thirds sensor. Interestingly, though, the E-PL7 leaves a bit more noise in the red-leaf fabric, but otherwise, image quality is practically identical here with only very subtle differences.

As shown above comparing the E-PL7's base ISO 200 (left) to expanded ISO 100 (right), one advantage of the E-PL7 over its predecessor is that it offers an expanded low ISO 100 equivalent with noticeably improved detail particularly in our red-leaf fabric (due to lower default noise reduction), but at the expense of less dynamic range. The E-PL5 does not offer an extended ISO 100 setting.

Here we compare the E-PL7 to the 16-megapixel APS-C Fuji X-A2. This Fuji model uses a traditional Bayer-filtered sensor instead of Fujifilm's unique X-Trans sensor, but it still performs very well when coupled with Fuji's processing. The X-A2's images are cleaner and softer looking than the PL7's, however they do show a little less detail in the mosaic crop. At first glance, the red-leaf fabric appears to have less detail as well, but if you look closely, it actually has just as much if not more, but contrast is significantly lower. The Olympus does do better with the pink fabric, though.

Here we decided to compare the E-PL7 to an excellent entry-level APS-C DSLR, the Nikon D3300. The 24-megapixel D3300 does resolve more fine detail with fewer noise reduction artifacts, however the E-PL7 compares well here, especially considering its base ISO is higher.

The 20-megapixel APS-C Samsung NX300 resolves a bit more detail and also shows fewer noise reduction artifacts, but it struggles with the red-leaf swatch already at base ISO, blurring it more than the E-PL7. Overall, we still give the edge to the Samsung at base ISO, but only just.

In this comparison with the 24-megapixel APS-C Sony A5100, the Olympus holds it own, though the Sony does resolve more detail overall. The A5100's images are fairly crisp without the obvious sharpening halos generated by the E-PL7, however the Sony shows quite a few false colors in the monk's clothing (some of them are real -- a result of the offset printing process -- however they appear somewhat exaggerated). Sony's rendering of the tricky red-leaf pattern appears softer but actually contains good detail, while the E-PL7's rendering resolves some of the thread pattern, however it's also noisier giving the impression of more detail.

Again, pretty similar results from the two siblings at ISO 1600, however the older E-PL5 does a bit better at holding onto fine detail while the E-PL7 produces a slightly cleaner image. We're splitting hairs here, though, and both struggle to retain fine detail in our challenging red-leaf swatch.

As we saw at base ISO, the X-A2 produces a cleaner looking image with fewer noise reduction and sharpening artifacts at ISO 1600, though it appears a bit soft. Both cameras struggle with our red-leaf fabric however the X-A2 does resolve slightly better detail, but with much lower contrast.

There's a dramatic difference between the E-PL7 and D3300 here at ISO 1600. While the Nikon's image is much noisier, it retains much more detail, and the noise is very fine-grained, almost film-like in nature. The E-PL7 on the other hand is working hard to smooth over noise, however it loses more detail in the process.

At ISO 1600, the Samsung continues to resolve more fine detail while producing lower noise and fewer artifacts, but contrast is a little lower and it really struggles with our red-leaf swatch.

The Sony A5100 continues to resolve more detail than the E-PL7 at ISO 1600, but its somewhat clumsy processing smudges fine detail, giving some areas of the image a slightly soft, almost veiled look. The E-PL7's image also shows a loss of detail as well as unwanted artifacts, but it appears crisper with more "pop". The Sony does do a little better with our notorious red-leaf swatch, though some of that apparent detail is false.

Again, very similar results from the two Olympus PEN models at ISO 3200, but yet again, the E-PL5 does a tad batter at retaining fine detail, while the E-PL7 shows slightly lower noise. Both produce fairly strong artifacts in their attempt to control noise, and both only show a slight semblance of the red-leaf pattern.

The X-A2 continues to do noticeably better than the E-PL7 at ISO 3200, with lower noise, fewer artifacts and better fine detail, though the image remains a little soft overall. Both cameras really struggle resolving much of the pattern in our red-leaf swatch, however the E-PL7 does continue to produce slightly higher contrast.

The D3300 easily out-resolves the PL7 at ISO 3200, but continues to produce a much noisier image. However as was the case at ISO 1600, the noise has a very tight "grain" and images look more natural and film-like, as well as containing more detail than the E-PL7's.

The Samsung NX300 works hard at eliminating noise at ISO 3200, though it still manages to offer much better fine detail in most areas. The NX300's noise reduction does however leave behind some dark pixels in flat areas, which give those areas a bit of a peppered look, and it really smudges out almost all detail in our red-leaf swatch. The E-PL7's noise in the shadows is more grainy and natural looking, however fine detail in the mosaic crop shows a lot more artifacts.

Here again the Sony's image at ISO 3200 is quite soft from aggressive default noise reduction and light sharpening, though it does continue to contain more detail overall.