Olympus PEN E-PM1 vs. Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7
Comparison
| change cameras » | |||||
|
vs |
|
|||
| Olympus PEN E-PM1 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 | ||||
| check price » | check price » | ||||
Megapixels
12.30
10.10
Max. image resolution
4032 x 3024
3648 x 2736
Sensor
Sensor type
CMOS
CMOS
Sensor size
Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm)
1/1.7" (~ 7.53 x 5.64 mm)
Sensor size comparison
Sensor size is generally a good indicator of the quality of the camera.
Sensors can vary greatly in size. As a general rule, the bigger the
sensor, the better the image quality.
Bigger sensors are more effective because they have more surface area to capture light. An important factor when comparing digital cameras is also camera generation. Generally, newer sensors will outperform the older.
Learn more about sensor sizes »
Bigger sensors are more effective because they have more surface area to capture light. An important factor when comparing digital cameras is also camera generation. Generally, newer sensors will outperform the older.
Learn more about sensor sizes »
Actual sensor size
Note: Actual size is set to screen → change »
|
|
vs |
|
| 5.3 | : | 1 |
| (ratio) | ||
| Olympus PEN E-PM1 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 | |
Surface area:
| 224.90 mm² | vs | 42.47 mm² |
Difference: 182.43 mm² (430%)
PEN E-PM1 sensor is approx. 5.3x bigger than LX7 sensor.
Pixel pitch tells you the distance from the center of one pixel (photosite) to the center of the next. It tells you how close the pixels are to each other.
The bigger the pixel pitch, the further apart they are and the bigger each pixel is. Bigger pixels tend to have better signal to noise ratio and greater dynamic range.
The bigger the pixel pitch, the further apart they are and the bigger each pixel is. Bigger pixels tend to have better signal to noise ratio and greater dynamic range.
Pixel or photosite area affects how much light per pixel can be gathered.
The larger it is the more light can be collected by a single pixel.
Larger pixels have the potential to collect more photons, resulting in greater dynamic range, while smaller pixels provide higher resolutions (more detail) for a given sensor size.
Larger pixels have the potential to collect more photons, resulting in greater dynamic range, while smaller pixels provide higher resolutions (more detail) for a given sensor size.
Relative pixel sizes:
vs
Pixel area difference: 14.12 µm² (336%)
A pixel on Olympus PEN E-PM1 sensor is approx. 336% bigger than a pixel on Panasonic LX7.
Pixel density tells you how many million pixels fit or would fit in one
square cm of the sensor.
Higher pixel density means smaller pixels and lower pixel density means larger pixels.
Higher pixel density means smaller pixels and lower pixel density means larger pixels.
To learn about the accuracy of these numbers,
click here.
Specs
Olympus PEN E-PM1
Panasonic LX7
Total megapixels
13.10
12.80
Effective megapixels
12.30
10.10
Optical zoom
3.8x
Digital zoom
No
Yes
ISO sensitivity
Auto, (200 - 1600), 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800
Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, (12800 with boost)
RAW
Manual focus
Normal focus range
50 cm
Macro focus range
1 cm
Focal length (35mm equiv.)
24 - 90 mm
Aperture priority
Yes
Yes
Max. aperture
f1.4 - f2.3
Metering
Multi, Center-weighted, Spot
Multi, Center-weighted, Spot
Exposure compensation
±3 EV (in 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV, 1 EV steps)
±3 EV (in 1/3 EV steps)
Shutter priority
Yes
Yes
Min. shutter speed
60 sec
60 sec
Max. shutter speed
1/4000 sec
1/4000 sec
Built-in flash
External flash
Viewfinder
Electronic (optional)
Electronic (optional)
White balance presets
8
5
Screen size
3"
3"
Screen resolution
460,000 dots
920,000 dots
Video capture
Max. video resolution
1920x1080 (60p/60i/30p)
Storage types
SD/SDHC/SDXC
SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMI
Wireless
GPS
Battery
Lithium-Ion BLS-5 rechargeable battery
Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery
Weight
265 g
298 g
Dimensions
110 x 64 x 34 mm
111 x 68 x 46 mm
Year
2011
2012
Choose cameras to compare
Popular comparisons:
- Olympus PEN E-PM1 vs. Olympus PEN E-PM2
- Olympus PEN E-PM1 vs. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
- Olympus PEN E-PM1 vs. Fujifilm X10
- Olympus PEN E-PM1 vs. Olympus PEN E-PL1
- Olympus PEN E-PM1 vs. Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1
- Olympus PEN E-PM1 vs. Olympus PEN E-PL3
- Olympus PEN E-PM1 vs. Nikon 1 V1
- Olympus PEN E-PM1 vs. Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
- Olympus PEN E-PM1 vs. Sony Alpha NEX-5
- Olympus PEN E-PM1 vs. Olympus OM-D E-M5
- Olympus PEN E-PM1 vs. Nikon 1 J1
Diagonal
Diagonal is calculated by the use of Pythagorean theorem:
where w = sensor width and h = sensor height
| Diagonal = √ | w² + h² |
Olympus PEN E-PM1 diagonal
w = 17.30 mm
h = 13.00 mm
h = 13.00 mm
| Diagonal = √ | 17.30² + 13.00² | = 21.64 mm |
Panasonic LX7 diagonal
The diagonal of LX7 sensor is not 1/1.7 or 0.59" (14.9 mm) as you might expect, but approximately two thirds of
that value - 9.41 mm. If you want to know why, see
sensor sizes.
w = 7.53 mm
h = 5.64 mm
w = 7.53 mm
h = 5.64 mm
| Diagonal = √ | 7.53² + 5.64² | = 9.41 mm |
Surface area
Surface area is calculated by multiplying the width and the height of a sensor.
PEN E-PM1 sensor area
Width = 17.30 mm
Height = 13.00 mm
Surface area = 17.30 × 13.00 = 224.90 mm²
Height = 13.00 mm
Surface area = 17.30 × 13.00 = 224.90 mm²
LX7 sensor area
Width = 7.53 mm
Height = 5.64 mm
Surface area = 7.53 × 5.64 = 42.47 mm²
Height = 5.64 mm
Surface area = 7.53 × 5.64 = 42.47 mm²
Pixel pitch
Pixel pitch is the distance from the center of one pixel to the center of the
next measured in micrometers (µm). It can be calculated with the following formula:
| Pixel pitch = | sensor width in mm | × 1000 |
| sensor resolution width in pixels |
PEN E-PM1 pixel pitch
Sensor width = 17.30 mm
Sensor resolution width = 4045 pixels
Sensor resolution width = 4045 pixels
| Pixel pitch = | 17.30 | × 1000 | = 4.28 µm |
| 4045 |
LX7 pixel pitch
Sensor width = 7.53 mm
Sensor resolution width = 3678 pixels
Sensor resolution width = 3678 pixels
| Pixel pitch = | 7.53 | × 1000 | = 2.05 µm |
| 3678 |
Pixel area
The area of one pixel can be calculated by simply squaring the pixel pitch:
You could also divide sensor surface area with effective megapixels:
Pixel area = pixel pitch²
You could also divide sensor surface area with effective megapixels:
| Pixel area = | sensor surface area in mm² |
| effective megapixels |
PEN E-PM1 pixel area
Pixel pitch = 4.28 µm
Pixel area = 4.28² = 18.32 µm²
Pixel area = 4.28² = 18.32 µm²
LX7 pixel area
Pixel pitch = 2.05 µm
Pixel area = 2.05² = 4.2 µm²
Pixel area = 2.05² = 4.2 µm²
Pixel density
Pixel density can be calculated with the following formula:
One could also use this formula:
| Pixel density = ( | sensor resolution width in pixels | )² / 1000000 |
| sensor width in cm |
One could also use this formula:
| Pixel density = | effective megapixels × 1000000 | / 10000 |
| sensor surface area in mm² |
PEN E-PM1 pixel density
Sensor resolution width = 4045 pixels
Sensor width = 1.73 cm
Pixel density = (4045 / 1.73)² / 1000000 = 5.47 MP/cm²
Sensor width = 1.73 cm
Pixel density = (4045 / 1.73)² / 1000000 = 5.47 MP/cm²
LX7 pixel density
Sensor resolution width = 3678 pixels
Sensor width = 0.753 cm
Pixel density = (3678 / 0.753)² / 1000000 = 23.86 MP/cm²
Sensor width = 0.753 cm
Pixel density = (3678 / 0.753)² / 1000000 = 23.86 MP/cm²
Sensor resolution
Sensor resolution is calculated from sensor size and effective megapixels. It's slightly higher
than maximum (not interpolated) image resolution which is usually stated on camera specifications.
Sensor resolution is used in pixel pitch, pixel area, and pixel density formula.
For sake of simplicity, we're going to calculate it in 3 stages.
1. First we need to find the ratio between horizontal and vertical length by dividing the former with the latter (aspect ratio). It's usually 1.33 (4:3) or 1.5 (3:2), but not always.
2. With the ratio (r) known we can calculate the X from the formula below, where X is a vertical number of pixels:
3. To get sensor resolution we then multiply X with the corresponding ratio:
Resolution horizontal: X × r
Resolution vertical: X
1. First we need to find the ratio between horizontal and vertical length by dividing the former with the latter (aspect ratio). It's usually 1.33 (4:3) or 1.5 (3:2), but not always.
2. With the ratio (r) known we can calculate the X from the formula below, where X is a vertical number of pixels:
| (X × r) × X = effective megapixels × 1000000 → |
|
Resolution horizontal: X × r
Resolution vertical: X
PEN E-PM1 sensor resolution
Sensor width = 17.30 mm
Sensor height = 13.00 mm
Effective megapixels = 12.30
Resolution horizontal: X × r = 3041 × 1.33 = 4045
Resolution vertical: X = 3041
Sensor resolution = 4045 x 3041
Sensor height = 13.00 mm
Effective megapixels = 12.30
| r = 17.30/13.00 = 1.33 |
|
Resolution vertical: X = 3041
Sensor resolution = 4045 x 3041
LX7 sensor resolution
Sensor width = 7.53 mm
Sensor height = 5.64 mm
Effective megapixels = 10.10
Resolution horizontal: X × r = 2745 × 1.34 = 3678
Resolution vertical: X = 2745
Sensor resolution = 3678 x 2745
Sensor height = 5.64 mm
Effective megapixels = 10.10
| r = 7.53/5.64 = 1.34 |
|
Resolution vertical: X = 2745
Sensor resolution = 3678 x 2745
Crop factor
Crop factor or focal length multiplier is calculated by dividing the diagonal
of 35 mm film (43.27 mm) with the diagonal of the sensor.
| Crop factor = | 43.27 mm |
| sensor diagonal in mm |
PEN E-PM1 crop factor
Sensor diagonal in mm = 21.64 mm
| Crop factor = | 43.27 | = 2 |
| 21.64 |
LX7 crop factor
Sensor diagonal in mm = 9.41 mm
| Crop factor = | 43.27 | = 4.6 |
| 9.41 |
35 mm equivalent aperture
Equivalent aperture (in 135 film terms) is calculated by multiplying lens aperture
with crop factor (a.k.a. focal length multiplier).
PEN E-PM1 equivalent aperture
Aperture is a lens characteristic, so it's calculated only for
fixed lens cameras. If you want to know the equivalent aperture for
Olympus PEN E-PM1, take the aperture of the lens
you're using and multiply it with crop factor.
Crop factor for Olympus PEN E-PM1 is 2
Crop factor for Olympus PEN E-PM1 is 2
LX7 equivalent aperture
Crop factor = 4.6
Aperture = f1.4 - f2.3
35-mm equivalent aperture = (f1.4 - f2.3) × 4.6 = f6.4 - f10.6
Aperture = f1.4 - f2.3
35-mm equivalent aperture = (f1.4 - f2.3) × 4.6 = f6.4 - f10.6
More comparisons of Olympus PEN E-PM1:
- Olympus PEN E-PM1 vs. Olympus PEN E-PL2
- Olympus PEN E-PM1 vs. Olympus XZ-1
- Olympus PEN E-PM1 vs. Pentax Q
- Olympus PEN E-PM1 vs. Canon EOS Rebel T3i
- Olympus PEN E-PM1 vs. Sony Alpha NEX-C3
- Olympus PEN E-PM1 vs. Nikon D5000
- Olympus PEN E-PM1 vs. Canon PowerShot S95
- Olympus PEN E-PM1 vs. Fujifilm X20
- Olympus PEN E-PM1 vs. Samsung NX1000
- Olympus PEN E-PM1 vs. Olympus PEN E-P1
Enter your screen size (diagonal)
My screen size is
inches
Actual size is currently adjusted to screen.
If your screen (phone, tablet, or monitor) is not in diagonal, then the actual size of a sensor won't be shown correctly.
If your screen (phone, tablet, or monitor) is not in diagonal, then the actual size of a sensor won't be shown correctly.