Flip down screen Great quality images Great quality video

Quite confusing menus

The Olympus PEN E-PL7 ($599.99 body only) sets itself apart from the crowd with a unique front-facing screen that flips down below the camera for selfies. That's a little gimmicky, but the PEN E-PL7 is just as serious a mirrorless camera as others in the company's PEN lineup. The 16-megapixel shooter captures images at up to 8.4fps, and is compatible with a large catalog of Micro Four Thirds lenses. As good as this PEN is, it doesn't quite earn Editors' Choice honors. The Sony Alpha 6000 ($549.99 at Dell Technologies) is an overall better mirrorless camera, albeit one without quite as strong as a lens system behind it, and currently holds that spot. And a previous winner in this category, the Olympus OM-D E-M10 ( at Amazon) , is still our favorite entry-level body with a Micro Four Thirds lens mount. Design and Features The E-PL7 ( at Amazon)  measures in at 2.6 by 4.5 by 1.5 inches (HWD) and weighs 10.9 ounces without a lens. It's available in a two-tone silver and black version...

The Olympus PEN E-PL7 is a compact Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera that hits a lot of the right notes, but it isn't quite an Editors' Choice.

Compact; Quick focus; 8.4fps burst rate; Micro Four Thirds lens system; In-body image stabilization; Tilting touch-screen display; Accessory port for optional EVF; Wi-Fi

Sometimes slow to start and shoot; No support for 60fps video; Lacks standard mic input; Lacks built-in flash; Single control dial

Olympus' replacement for the 2-year-old PEN E-PL5 may look similar to its predecessor, but Olympus made a lot of significant changes for the E-PL7, mostly to incorporate newer technology that's since debuted in its OM-D line of interchangeable-lens cameras. (Asia and the UK got a very minor update a year ago, the E-PL6.) And though I may quibble with some of the individual parts, I like the whole camera in general, and enjoy shooting stills with it for all but action.

A likeable interchangeable-lens model, the Olympus PEN E-PL7's overall package makes an attractive alternative to an advanced compact and has quite a bit to offer as a first ILC.

With its flexible display, great set of controls and generally streamlined design, the Olympus PEN E-PL7 hits quite a few high notes.

It might be a little too complicated for newbies, and the grip could be bigger.

Olympus' replacement for the 2-year-old PEN E-PL5 may look similar to its predecessor, but Olympus made a lot of significant changes for the E-PL7, mostly to incorporate newer technology that's since debuted in its OM-D line of interchangeable-lens cameras.

With its flexible display; great set of controls and generally streamlined design; the Olympus PEN E-PL7 hits quite a few high notes

It might be a little too complicated for newbies; and the grip could be bigger

The Olympus E-PL7 is a compact and very portable ILC that provides very good image quality and performance. A great collection of lenses and creative shooting modes makes this camera a must see for the photography enthusiast. Read more in our Full Conclusion .

iAuto shooting mode is accurate and easy in all situations; Camera produces excellent overall image quality; Very compact and lightweight; easy to carry and operate; 3-axis IS is very handy and effective; High Res 3.0-inch LCD is great for shooting and viewing images; Screen tilts a full 180° for...

No built-in flash; Possible to forget external unit at home, No built-in OVF/EVF, although there is an optional EVF, Occasionally iAuto produced unreliable exposures with face detection

Much of the rest of the E-PL7 is familiar - it's based on a familiar sensor and the TruePic VII processor that offers very similar results to the chip used in the existing model. However, our early testing suggests the shutter shake isn't nearly as prominent as it had been on existing PEN models.

The new Pen E-PL7 doesn't introduce anything fundamentally different or novel; there's a screen that flips down (yes, down rather than up) through 180 degrees to facilitate selfies for example, and a couple of new Art Filters: Vintage and Partial Colour.

With fun features such as a "selfie screen", pared down controls and a user-friendly interface, the Olympus PEN E-PL7 is primarily aimed at point-and-shoot users. However, experienced photographers can find plenty of depth to keep their interest, with enough manual control to feel serious, and with...

Looks great; excellent touchscreen; improved handling; Wi-Fi works a treat; selfie screen if you fancy it

Incremental improvements for the series; detail lacks at high-ISO settings; Auto ISO has limited use

The E-PL7 is the first PEN-series camera to be announced since May 2013 and shares many features with the flagship E-P5 model unveiled at that time, along with the previous 'Lite' model, the E-PL6 (which didn't make it to the local market).

Olympus has received lots of praise for its OM-D series of compact system cameras, such as the OM-D E-M10 , OM-D E-M5 and OM-D E-M1 , but its Pen series has been a little overlooked in recent times.