Inside the Olympus PEN E-PL7
 |
The Olympus PEN E-PL7, like its Micro Four Thirds peers, is a pretty impressive little piece of engineering. It houses a 16MP Four Thirds sensor and a 3″ LCD that flips up 180-degrees. It accepts Micro Four Thirds lenses and ships with a pocket-sized external flash. Being curious types of people, we wanted to know how Olympus squeezes everything into a camera of the E-PL7’s size. Thankfully, there’s iFixit. Their disassembly guide gives an up-close look at what’s inside the camera – and you don’t have to void your warranty in the process.
iFixit Olympus PEN E-PL7 Repair Guide
iFixit Olympus PEN E-PL7 Disassembly Guide
Inside the Olympus PEN E-PL7
 |
This disassembly starts the way so many projects do: with a screwdriver. Screws are removed from the bottom plate and sides of the camera.
Image via iFixit
Inside the Olympus PEN E-PL7
 |
With some screws removed from the lens mount, this inner ring is revealed and carefully removed.
Image via iFixit
Inside the Olympus PEN E-PL7
 |
With even more screws gone a pair of tiny springs can be taken out of the mount.
Image via iFixit
Inside the Olympus PEN E-PL7
 |
Removing even more screws makes it possible to gently pull the chassis apart, but not quite all the way with a ribbon cable connecting the two pieces.
Image via iFixit
Inside the Olympus PEN E-PL7
 |
A camera divided. Highlighted in red is the ZIF connector keeping the ribbon cable attached to the motherboard.
Image via iFixit
Inside the Olympus PEN E-PL7
 |
With the cable disconnected, the camera can be handled one half at a time.
Image via iFixit
Inside the Olympus PEN E-PL7
 |
Here’s another look at the motherboard, with even more ribbon cables attached.
Image via iFixit
Inside the Olympus PEN E-PL7
 |
Up top, the plate that holds the mode dial and shutter release can be removed once one more screw is out of the way.
Image via iFixit
Inside the Olympus PEN E-PL7
 |
…And with some ribbon cables disconnected, the sensor comes free of the camera body too.
Image via iFixit
Inside the Olympus PEN E-PL7
|
E-PL7’s 16MP sensor lies |
Here’s a front view of the E-PL7’s 16MP sensor.
Image via iFixit
Inside the Olympus PEN E-PL7
 |
The camera is looking quite empty at this point. Here’s a sense of how small that motherboard is.
Image via iFixit
Inside the Olympus PEN E-PL7
 |
…And with a few last cables disconnected and screws removed, the E-PL7 disassembly is complete.
Image via iFixit
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
