If you’re thinking of picking up the E-P7 for vlogging, the fact that it uses a contrast-detect autofocus system makes it less adept than the likes of the Sony ZV-1, which plumps for a hybrid phase/contrast detect system. While the PEN E-P series has been dormant since 2013, the PEN E-PL ("PEN Lite") line has been a disappointing rinse and refresh for the past few years. When shooting caucasian subjects this makes it difficult to know whether the camera's color rendition is overaggressive, but you have to trust your settings and keep shooting; get your images into a computer or your phone and the skin is just fine. It also features USB charging carried over from the latest OM-D cameras, albeit via a micro USB connection.

Continuous autofocus was left switched on for this sample video, and at times the focus can be seen to wobble, but remains focused on the area of interest. Build quality could be better, for example, if you squeeze the camera a little too hard then there is a noticeable creak, and you can see the bottom around the battery compartment flex, so I’d probably recommend you avoid squeezing it. A focus-assist lamp comes in handy in lower light conditions, though you may wish to switch that off in discreet settings.Colour reproduction on the default “Natural” setting is pleasing with good levels of saturation, without being overpowering. The PEN E-PL7 inherits the movie modes of its predecessor with its 1080p30 best quality mode slightly improved as a result of encoding at a higher bit rate. continuous shooting when using the mechanical shutter, and up to 15fps when using the electronic shutter with fixed focus, at the full 20MP resolution. The on/off button is small and recessed with an LED at its centre, it’s also ridged, this time with radial groove in the top, Olympus has clearly paid a lot of attention to the details, and it’s a reassuringly practical blend of form and function.

The result is the best non-OM-D camera we've seen since the PEN-F, as well as one of the best travel cameras, best cameras for street photography, best cameras for beginners and even best vlogging cameras for quick and clean content creation. Photographing moving subjects is something that the camera can also handle, but it works best with ones that are moving at a fairly predictable, and not too rapid, pace. First of all the resolution is increased to 1037k dots but probably more significant is the change in proportions. The Olympus PEN E-P7 combines the finesse and form factor of its predecessor, the Profile Control switch inspired by the fan favorite Olympus PEN-F, and the features and functionality of the new Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV. All very useful and it works, though for the eye priority mode to work effectively the subject does need to be reasonably close and well lit.This clip, like the others below was shot using the PEN E-PL7’s best quality 1080p30 Fine quality video mode.