Love that little gem. It´s really fun to take it with you all the time and like Daido Moriyama says: good images come only from shooting a lot - and this camera helps to shoot a lot. Thanks for the video!✌✌
I've been enjoying mine. I think it makes a nice travel/walk around stills camera, especially with the compact m43 lenses. I think they're expensive new, but used they offer decent value. The jpegs out of camera can look really good and the built in editor is pretty capable despite the teeny tiny buttons. The firmware on the camera definitely could do with some love and feels like it's been pieced together from various models without much thought. I really wish they'd put bigger and more tactile buttons on the back. I'm suprised that Olympus/omd didn't focus in on a dedicated street/travel camera. They could easily have matched what fuji have been doing with film simulations and they have the lenses for it.
I've come to the conclusion that high end cameras from the last 5-10 years are still very capable today. They make great pictures and they have great features. The only things lacking are the latest and greatest autofocus tracking algorithms and the latest video formats. I dont take many videos and I'm fine with back button focus. I don't need the camera to track eyeballs from the other side of the gym. I can try to do that. Thats the fun IMO.
This camera compared to f is more accessible for street photography with flip screen and the dials layout. Trumps those other brands that have fixed lens and no stabiliser. 17 f1.8 is my go-to, and i have a Laowa 7.5 f2. 0 and Lumix/Leica 25 f1.4 all provide street shooting opportunities.
I like the E-P7. I have two issues with it; 1) It is very expensive. It is usually priced higher than the E-M10 IV and that is the same camera but with a viewfinder. It is never around 400, always around 800 or 900 where I am. 2) I already have the GX9. It is older but has more features and cost me 400 two years ago. I wish OM had put the guts of the E-M5 III in the E-P7, that would've made it more appealing at the price point it is at. By the way, the electronic shutter should be fine, I use it a lot with my GX9. I do like the E-P7... something about the small size and style. We need more cameras like this.
@@bartjanverhoef I used to have the GX80. The GX9 is a refinement of the GX80. The best new feature is the AF switch, very handy. Both cameras are fab.
@@bartjanverhoefGX9 is only tiny bit bigger than GX80/85 but 100g heavier. Dedicated exposure compensation button. Tilting EVF but I find myself never using it as too small and as it projects it catches on things when trying to stow it away. I love it nevertheless, but using an E-PL2 as my EDC. Been looking for something more recent but undecided -- unlike you I like the stealth aspect of an electronic shutter but not willing to pay 700 for a used P7 so might have to go with two Panasonic cameras
I think the plastic build is a problem. The buttons feel bad to press, which is a problem I never thought about before getting my hands on it… However it is a great deal if you can get it with less than $600. The photos are great straight out of the camera, if you know how to use it.
I was considering either a pen f, lumix gm5, or pen ep7, which one do you suggest? I want a camera under $700 that i can daily that is pocketable with big jeans no case needed and can shoot ok video.
good review. The one thing I would say, is I got it specifically because I did not want a camera with a viewfinder or bumps and bulges. When I am want all that, I use my Pentax K3-III. What I want for a a pocket camera is a truly pocketable ILC camera, with modern electronics The only thing I wish it had was USB C port instead of micro.
Mine was defective, but I'd like to get it again. For about 2 weeks when it first came out, they offered a 75mm f/1.8 + body +kit 14-42 EZ for 899 euros... a sweet deal IMO. I loved the colors out of it. The video was usable and downsampled from the 20MP sensor (a feature Panasonic cannot do apparently in many bodies).
Thanks for the video and sharing your experience with it. I agree that, for the cost, I would buy another Olympus camera that supports an EVF (epl-7 or epl-8).
For M43...I am currently using a pair of E-PL8 bodies and an E-P3. (same battery) Are there any Pen series with external mic port??? None of my Pens have/had an external mic.port..even my former pair of Lumix GX9s did not have a mic port..For me its way easier to focus with the large rear display then the tiny viewfinder...(I am an old medium format film cam user and I like to look down on a flip screen).I do not shoot video and I kinda dislike side swing rear screens. (though my Canon eosRP has a side swing door)....Note: I have never understood the common complaint ...by some reviewers...that a certain camera body is to small and unbalanced when shooting large lenses.??? right hand on the cam body...Left hand under the Tele...Its been that way for decades...Cheers
I have an E-PL2. Love the grip, it's straight down, full height of the camera, likewise my thumb sits well in the back, making the camera easy to hold -- when using, or just holding it hanging in a loose hand grip. I tried the E-P5 and E-PL7 -- they reduced the height of the grip (basically cutting off the top and bottom of grip) and they gave it a diagonal edge on the lens-side of the grip. I find the camera rotates out of my grip when taking photos, and is difficult to hold when letting it hang in loose hand grip. The E-P7 looks to have a better grip again. But yeah, the price is off-putting, also considering the EVF limitation.
Thank you for this video. I definitely want to get the E-P7, but I'll have to look overseas for it, most likely, because they were not imported to the USA for some stupid reason.
Same, but it is probably for the better since instagram influencers would make it $800-1000 quickly as a x100 replacement. Luckily you can find one for $540-600 with lens right now
I bought mine in Japan in April and I love it so much. What im trying to find is a view finder. Sometimes is a little annoying to only look at the screen
I waited with high hopes a EP 7 would be a step up from the Pen F. No such luck! Instead I looked hard and found an EP 5. It fills all your complaints of the “7”. Older but difficult to fault. Now! How about a new Pen F?
Just wondering. For me, the E-P7 ist the better Pen-F, as it has the nice old flip up screen combined with the newer 20 mp sensor. Just perfect for street photography!
Really depends on what you aim to use it for. And your budget, ofcourse. You could probably pick up a used E-P5 for half of what you’d spend on a used E-P7. And use the other half on the VF-4 and maybe even a lens. That would get you a very classic yet still very capable camera with an electronical viewfinder. I’d say that comparison, the E-P7 feels a bit more in line with the E-PL series, in that it seems not so much aimed at the more ‘serious’ PEN users as its predecessors. However, it has better controls (imo) than E-PL’s and also some improved specs (20mp sensor, faster, etc) compared to E-P predecessors, so it definetely has quite a bit going for it.
Got mine just this week. Found the quite good manual for download. Just use the quick menu (not sure about the english term) connected to that undocumented button betwenn the shutter and the film buttons!
I bought one through Amazon Japan. I really wanted to love it but ended up returning it. The build was so disappointing. I was shocked at how plasticky and flimsy it felt, the tinny sound of plastic, and even the paint job on the plastic surface looked like Dollar Store calibre! The flip screen is like the one used on E-P5 which in my opinion is flawed. Flipping up is fine, but to flip it back down, you need a two step motion to 1) flip down 2) press screen back towards camera back. It’s the position of the hinges…why did they go back to this design? The E-PL7 has a better hinge on the flip screen design-it flips up and back down with single motions.
Thanks for this comment, it's very important to me. I used to have the EP-5 and now shoot with an EPL-10, which has the smooth one-handed tilt mechanism. (I actually borrowed a Fuji X100 V and was horrified at how difficult the tilt screen was to use, you had to hunt for a tiny finger insertion point, it made me really appreciate the Olympus design.) Sorry to hear they've gone back to the old system on the E-P7!
I've had mine for about a month. I do find it a lovely camera, but it seems crippled by software. I'll continue to use it, but at some point I think I'll end up selling it off. Here's hoping for an Olympus magic latern.
Of the overview in the beginning of the video, which camera is your favorite and why? I'm interested in getting a 4/3 and am new in the 4/3-world. After some SLR, digital compact, a few DSLR's (Pentax) and a mirrorless (Fuji X-T3) I went to phone (iPhone 13 Pro Max) and am getting the itch to get something that can change lenses and where I can use (AF) primes.
Hi Bart, first of all thank you for the video and how well you explained your view on this product. I’m completely new and I pretty much know nothing about cameras. I’m gonna be traveling soon and is looking for a camera who does “vintage” pictures and from my research, everyone is saying that the Olympus is a very good camera to do this kind of pictures. Would you agree ? Also from your video, it looks like I could do so much more with it, in an easy way as you explained. So from what I said, do you confirm that the Olympus e-p7 would be a good camera for my use ? Thank you very much for your help, it’s really hard to decide when my knowledge isn’t very good and with all of the different cameras on the market! Regards, Marty
Hi Bart. I wonder if you can help me please. I just bought an olympus pen ep7. I would like to change the file format from JPEG to Raw + JPEG. I can’t seem to find it. Can you help please. Thanks so much
Thank you for the very useful review based on personal experience. Re your concern about the shutter speed, did you consider or evaluate the electronic shutter? I believe it allows speeds up to 1/16000 sec.
I started using the E-P7 for street photography more after I’d made this video and used it a lot in silent mode (so electronic shutter) since. I’ve grown more accustomed to it since then :).
I am a happy owner of the awesome Panasonic Lumix G9 Mark II, but I'm also looking for a good "street and travel warrior," and the PEN cameras intrigue me. What would you consider to be the best value? A used E-P5 or splurge a little and get the E-P7? What does the EP7 offer outside of the newer sensor?
A very useful video, thank you. I'm thinking of buying one of these camers to replace a Panasonic GX7; one that can fit in my coat pocket for mainly ICM photography. Do you think this camera would be suitable for the ICM technique? Thanks in advance.
Was considering getting this but others are recommending the PEN-F instead. I already have a GX9 and EM1 M2, so the PEN-F might be a duplicate. What do you recommend?
Such a difficult question to answer. I am using the E-P7 quite a bit these days, it works really well as a everyday carry and I also very much enjoy using it for street photography. On the other hand, the PEN-F for me is a camera that I’ve owned for a few years but never really used that much, but having done quite a bit of street photography I am starting to find it very useful now too (mostly because of its built-in EVF). Between the two, the PEN-F feels a bit more ‘pro’, the EVF, the fully articulate screen, metal body, and so on. The EVF is something I sometimes miss on the E-P7, but I find that its tilting screen is often more handy for street photography. The E-P7 is also lighter, has better grip and feels faster, whereas the PEN-F feels more premium build. Which of the 2 is the ‘best’ totally depends on what you’d use it for I guess.
Totally agree with you on thinking they have a place along the OMD line. But as far as predictions go, my guess is as good as yours. I could imagine OM System continuing with the Tough line as a companion camera for the outdoor type of photographers they seem to be mostly focussed on these days. I do wonder if they still want to actively diversify their line-up to include the more premium PEN’s. The PEN’s don’t seem to fit that specific outdoorsy niche and I guess there’s a lot of competition elsewhere with Fuji, Sony etc being so popular these days. I’ve absolutely got my fingers crossed for more premium PEN’s in the future but not entirely sure if that will happen.
Is an electronic shutter available in M/A/S/P modes on the E-P7? This is not available on the E-PL9, so I wonder whether the E-P7 is better in this respect.
@@bartjanverhoef cuts & splices in your video. …also, I thought you’ve been speeding these up a bit. (Gotta be somewhere?) Doesn’t seem like your style!
Love that little gem. It´s really fun to take it with you all the time and like Daido Moriyama says: good images come only from shooting a lot - and this camera helps to shoot a lot. Thanks for the video!✌✌
I've been enjoying mine. I think it makes a nice travel/walk around stills camera, especially with the compact m43 lenses. I think they're expensive new, but used they offer decent value. The jpegs out of camera can look really good and the built in editor is pretty capable despite the teeny tiny buttons. The firmware on the camera definitely could do with some love and feels like it's been pieced together from various models without much thought. I really wish they'd put bigger and more tactile buttons on the back. I'm suprised that Olympus/omd didn't focus in on a dedicated street/travel camera. They could easily have matched what fuji have been doing with film simulations and they have the lenses for it.
I've come to the conclusion that high end cameras from the last 5-10 years are still very capable today. They make great pictures and they have great features. The only things lacking are the latest and greatest autofocus tracking algorithms and the latest video formats.
I dont take many videos and I'm fine with back button focus. I don't need the camera to track eyeballs from the other side of the gym. I can try to do that. Thats the fun IMO.
This camera compared to f is more accessible for street photography with flip screen and the dials layout. Trumps those other brands that have fixed lens and no stabiliser. 17 f1.8 is my go-to, and i have a Laowa 7.5 f2. 0 and Lumix/Leica 25 f1.4 all provide street shooting opportunities.
I like the E-P7. I have two issues with it;
1) It is very expensive. It is usually priced higher than the E-M10 IV and that is the same camera but with a viewfinder. It is never around 400, always around 800 or 900 where I am.
2) I already have the GX9. It is older but has more features and cost me 400 two years ago.
I wish OM had put the guts of the E-M5 III in the E-P7, that would've made it more appealing at the price point it is at.
By the way, the electronic shutter should be fine, I use it a lot with my GX9.
I do like the E-P7... something about the small size and style. We need more cameras like this.
Agree on everything you said. Interesting camera btw, that GX9. Haven’t tried it (do own an GX80), but would love to sometimes.
@@bartjanverhoef I used to have the GX80. The GX9 is a refinement of the GX80. The best new feature is the AF switch, very handy. Both cameras are fab.
@@bartjanverhoefGX9 is only tiny bit bigger than GX80/85 but 100g heavier. Dedicated exposure compensation button. Tilting EVF but I find myself never using it as too small and as it projects it catches on things when trying to stow it away. I love it nevertheless, but using an E-PL2 as my EDC. Been looking for something more recent but undecided -- unlike you I like the stealth aspect of an electronic shutter but not willing to pay 700 for a used P7 so might have to go with two Panasonic cameras
I think the plastic build is a problem. The buttons feel bad to press, which is a problem I never thought about before getting my hands on it… However it is a great deal if you can get it with less than $600. The photos are great straight out of the camera, if you know how to use it.
I was considering either a pen f, lumix gm5, or pen ep7, which one do you suggest? I want a camera under $700 that i can daily that is pocketable with big jeans no case needed and can shoot ok video.
good review. The one thing I would say, is I got it specifically because I did not want a camera with a viewfinder or bumps and bulges. When I am want all that, I use my Pentax K3-III. What I want for a a pocket camera is a truly pocketable ILC camera, with modern electronics The only thing I wish it had was USB C port instead of micro.
Mine was defective, but I'd like to get it again. For about 2 weeks when it first came out, they offered a 75mm f/1.8 + body +kit 14-42 EZ for 899 euros... a sweet deal IMO. I loved the colors out of it. The video was usable and downsampled from the 20MP sensor (a feature Panasonic cannot do apparently in many bodies).
I enjoyed your opinion on the P7. I feel the E-P5 is the best option for me. The price for a second hand P5 is a much better option for me. Thanks
Thanks for the video and sharing your experience with it. I agree that, for the cost, I would buy another Olympus camera that supports an EVF (epl-7 or epl-8).
I think the idea is that if you want an EVF, you buy the E-M10 mark IV
@@cmartin_ok Good point. EM10 IV is more expensive but a more modern camera with the same comparable size.
For M43...I am currently using a pair of E-PL8 bodies and an E-P3. (same battery) Are there any Pen series with external mic port??? None of my Pens have/had an external mic.port..even my former pair of Lumix GX9s did not have a mic port..For me its way easier to focus with the large rear display then the tiny viewfinder...(I am an old medium format film cam user and I like to look down on a flip screen).I do not shoot video and I kinda dislike side swing rear screens. (though my Canon eosRP has a side swing door)....Note: I have never understood the common complaint ...by some reviewers...that a certain camera body is to small and unbalanced when shooting large lenses.??? right hand on the cam body...Left hand under the Tele...Its been that way for decades...Cheers
I have an E-PL2. Love the grip, it's straight down, full height of the camera, likewise my thumb sits well in the back, making the camera easy to hold -- when using, or just holding it hanging in a loose hand grip. I tried the E-P5 and E-PL7 -- they reduced the height of the grip (basically cutting off the top and bottom of grip) and they gave it a diagonal edge on the lens-side of the grip. I find the camera rotates out of my grip when taking photos, and is difficult to hold when letting it hang in loose hand grip.
The E-P7 looks to have a better grip again. But yeah, the price is off-putting, also considering the EVF limitation.
I like the sun rays highlights you capture i want to be that good!
Thank you for this video. I definitely want to get the E-P7, but I'll have to look overseas for it, most likely, because they were not imported to the USA for some stupid reason.
Same, but it is probably for the better since instagram influencers would make it $800-1000 quickly as a x100 replacement. Luckily you can find one for $540-600 with lens right now
I like your idea of a collection of the PEN PL cameras.
I bought mine in Japan in April and I love it so much. What im trying to find is a view finder. Sometimes is a little annoying to only look at the screen
It doesn’t take a viewfinder unfortunately. Well, not an electronical one, you could opt for the VF-1 if just for framing.
I waited with high hopes a EP 7 would be a step up from the Pen F. No such luck! Instead I looked hard and found an EP 5.
It fills all your complaints of the “7”. Older but difficult to fault. Now! How about a new Pen F?
Just wondering. For me, the E-P7 ist the better Pen-F, as it has the nice old flip up screen combined with the newer 20 mp sensor. Just perfect for street photography!
At the moment this is the only rangefinder style m43 body I could get but would need to import from Japan to Australia as it wasn’t sold locally.
I like the one-handed operation of it. Wish it had faster shutter and an option for an EVF. Which of the Pen series would you recommend?
Really depends on what you aim to use it for. And your budget, ofcourse. You could probably pick up a used E-P5 for half of what you’d spend on a used E-P7. And use the other half on the VF-4 and maybe even a lens. That would get you a very classic yet still very capable camera with an electronical viewfinder. I’d say that comparison, the E-P7 feels a bit more in line with the E-PL series, in that it seems not so much aimed at the more ‘serious’ PEN users as its predecessors. However, it has better controls (imo) than E-PL’s and also some improved specs (20mp sensor, faster, etc) compared to E-P predecessors, so it definetely has quite a bit going for it.
can you do a video showing us how to set up the camera for photos and show us the entire menu system.
Got mine just this week. Found the quite good manual for download. Just use the quick menu (not sure about the english term) connected to that undocumented button betwenn the shutter and the film buttons!
Nice pictures with and nice color profile.
I bought one through Amazon Japan. I really wanted to love it but ended up returning it. The build was so disappointing. I was shocked at how plasticky and flimsy it felt, the tinny sound of plastic, and even the paint job on the plastic surface looked like Dollar Store calibre! The flip screen is like the one used on E-P5 which in my opinion is flawed. Flipping up is fine, but to flip it back down, you need a two step motion to 1) flip down 2) press screen back towards camera back. It’s the position of the hinges…why did they go back to this design? The E-PL7 has a better hinge on the flip screen design-it flips up and back down with single motions.
Thanks for this comment, it's very important to me. I used to have the EP-5 and now shoot with an EPL-10, which has the smooth one-handed tilt mechanism. (I actually borrowed a Fuji X100 V and was horrified at how difficult the tilt screen was to use, you had to hunt for a tiny finger insertion point, it made me really appreciate the Olympus design.) Sorry to hear they've gone back to the old system on the E-P7!
I wish color profile in pro om olympus cameras. If this was with evf i would buy it.
I've had mine for about a month. I do find it a lovely camera, but it seems crippled by software. I'll continue to use it, but at some point I think I'll end up selling it off. Here's hoping for an Olympus magic latern.
I'm curious -- how do you mean, crippled by software?
@@sdrtcacgnrjrc No way to control the minimum shutter speed in Av, no exposure compensation in M mode. In becomes a drag to work with at night.
@@chuckl7713 thanks 👍🏼
Of the overview in the beginning of the video, which camera is your favorite and why? I'm interested in getting a 4/3 and am new in the 4/3-world. After some SLR, digital compact, a few DSLR's (Pentax) and a mirrorless (Fuji X-T3) I went to phone (iPhone 13 Pro Max) and am getting the itch to get something that can change lenses and where I can use (AF) primes.
Hi Bart, first of all thank you for the video and how well you explained your view on this product.
I’m completely new and I pretty much know nothing about cameras.
I’m gonna be traveling soon and is looking for a camera who does “vintage” pictures and from my research, everyone is saying that the Olympus is a very good camera to do this kind of pictures. Would you agree ?
Also from your video, it looks like I could do so much more with it, in an easy way as you explained.
So from what I said, do you confirm that the Olympus e-p7 would be a good camera for my use ?
Thank you very much for your help, it’s really hard to decide when my knowledge isn’t very good and with all of the different cameras on the market!
Regards,
Marty
Hi Bart. I wonder if you can help me please. I just bought an olympus pen ep7. I would like to change the file format from JPEG to Raw + JPEG. I can’t seem to find it. Can you help please. Thanks so much
Thank you for the very useful review based on personal experience.
Re your concern about the shutter speed, did you consider or evaluate the electronic shutter? I believe it allows speeds up to 1/16000 sec.
I started using the E-P7 for street photography more after I’d made this video and used it a lot in silent mode (so electronic shutter) since. I’ve grown more accustomed to it since then :).
I am a happy owner of the awesome Panasonic Lumix G9 Mark II, but I'm also looking for a good "street and travel warrior," and the PEN cameras intrigue me. What would you consider to be the best value? A used E-P5 or splurge a little and get the E-P7? What does the EP7 offer outside of the newer sensor?
Subscribed -- Thanks!
A very useful video, thank you. I'm thinking of buying one of these camers to replace a Panasonic GX7; one that can fit in my coat pocket for mainly ICM photography. Do you think this camera would be suitable for the ICM technique? Thanks in advance.
Was considering getting this but others are recommending the PEN-F instead. I already have a GX9 and EM1 M2, so the PEN-F might be a duplicate. What do you recommend?
Such a difficult question to answer. I am using the E-P7 quite a bit these days, it works really well as a everyday carry and I also very much enjoy using it for street photography. On the other hand, the PEN-F for me is a camera that I’ve owned for a few years but never really used that much, but having done quite a bit of street photography I am starting to find it very useful now too (mostly because of its built-in EVF). Between the two, the PEN-F feels a bit more ‘pro’, the EVF, the fully articulate screen, metal body, and so on. The EVF is something I sometimes miss on the E-P7, but I find that its tilting screen is often more handy for street photography. The E-P7 is also lighter, has better grip and feels faster, whereas the PEN-F feels more premium build. Which of the 2 is the ‘best’ totally depends on what you’d use it for I guess.
Is this camera can shoot while usb charging?
No, it can't. Just read this in the manual.
Question: What do you predict OMDS will do with the Pen line of cameras?
I think they have a place along with the OM-1 and OM-5.
Totally agree with you on thinking they have a place along the OMD line. But as far as predictions go, my guess is as good as yours. I could imagine OM System continuing with the Tough line as a companion camera for the outdoor type of photographers they seem to be mostly focussed on these days. I do wonder if they still want to actively diversify their line-up to include the more premium PEN’s. The PEN’s don’t seem to fit that specific outdoorsy niche and I guess there’s a lot of competition elsewhere with Fuji, Sony etc being so popular these days. I’ve absolutely got my fingers crossed for more premium PEN’s in the future but not entirely sure if that will happen.
Well, OM System just announced to Tough TG-7, so at least got that bit right :). Curious to see what’s next!
Thanks
Is an electronic shutter available in M/A/S/P modes on the E-P7? This is not available on the E-PL9, so I wonder whether the E-P7 is better in this respect.
What camera strap you are using here with that camera?
Made it myself!
Unfortunately, for some reason this video cannot be played, maybe in my country
Does it feel like a plastic toy? I have heard that you can squeeze it and it changes shape. Is it true?
I wish it could sqeeuze, but no, unfortunately not. It does feel a bit more plasticy than earlier pen’s.
Panasonic cripples their rangefinder bodies too by neglecting an audio in and/or out besides the GX8.
Mask On Nurse Marty (Ret)
Ab giveaway kb lavoge
Conclusion: buy used!
No viewfinder....what a pitty
This is my A-cam, but i am a filmmaker.
Quite a few splices in the videos lately!
What are splices?
@@bartjanverhoef cuts & splices in your video. …also, I thought you’ve been speeding these up a bit. (Gotta be somewhere?) Doesn’t seem like your style!