Nikon 1 J1 vs Olympus E-PL9

Its time to take a deeper look at the Nikon 1 J1 versus Olympus E-PL9, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by competitors Nikon and Olympus. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the 1 J1 (10MP) and E-PL9 (16MP) and the 1 J1 (1") and E-PL9 (Four Thirds) boast totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The 1 J1 was revealed 7 years earlier than the E-PL9 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving into a detailed comparison, here is a concise view of how the 1 J1 scores vs the E-PL9 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Nikon 1 J1 & Olympus PEN E-PL9. The full galleries are viewable at Nikon 1 J1 Gallery & Olympus E-PL9 Gallery.

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera, you should consider its weight and volume. The Nikon 1 J1 features outer measurements of 106mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 234 grams (0.52 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL9 has sizing of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") with a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs).

Check out the Nikon 1 J1 versus Olympus E-PL9 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the 1 J1 and the E-PL9.

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the 1 J1 and E-PL9 is 91 and 85 respectively.

In many cases, it is tough to visualise the difference in sensor sizes simply by researching specs. The pic underneath should provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the 1 J1 and E-PL9.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The 1 J1 with its smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF more challenging and the Olympus E-PL9 will result in extra detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more aged 1 J1 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.