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Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-PL9

Portability
74
Imaging
68
Features
84
Overall
74
Nikon Z50 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-PL9 Key Specs

Nikon Z50
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Push to 204800)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 397g - 127 x 94 x 60mm
  • Released October 2019
Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Revealed February 2018
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL8
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Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-PL9 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Nikon Z50 and Olympus E-PL9, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by brands Nikon and Olympus. There exists a significant gap among the resolutions of the Z50 (21MP) and E-PL9 (16MP) and the Z50 (APS-C) and E-PL9 (Four Thirds) come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The Z50 was released 21 months later than the E-PL9 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Nikon Z50 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise summary of how the Z50 grades against the E-PL9 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon Z50 over the Olympus E-PL9

 Z50 E-PL9 
RevealedOctober 2019February 2018Fresher by 21 months
Screen sizing3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Nikon Z50

 E-PL9 Z50 

Common features in the Nikon Z50 and Olympus E-PL9

 Z50 E-PL9 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen resolution1040k1040kThe same screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-PL9 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera regularly, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Nikon Z50 offers outer measurements of 127mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") with a weight of 397 grams (0.88 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL9 has measurements of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") and a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs).

Check out the Nikon Z50 and Olympus E-PL9 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you use at that moment. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the Z50 vs the E-PL9.

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-PL9 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the Z50 and E-PL9 is 74 and 85 respectively.

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-PL9 top view buttons comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-PL9 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizing only by researching a spec sheet. The photograph here will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the Z50 and E-PL9.

As you can see, both of those cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The Z50 featuring a bigger sensor will make getting bokeh easier and the Nikon Z50 will provide you with extra detail as a result of its extra 5MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs far more aggressively. The fresher Z50 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-PL9 sensor size comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-PL9 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-PL9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon Z50 Portrait photography features
Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography features
80
you can focus manually
good megapixels (21 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focus
exports RAW files
73
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon Z50 as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-PL9 as a Street photography camera
73
screen tilts
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
supports focus via touch
weather proofing
good ISO range (51,200)
no image stabilization
heavier than others in class (397g)
84
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
includes focus via touch
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon Z50
Sports photography with Olympus E-PL9
75
good megapixels (21 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
weather proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization
69
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon Z50
Travel photography with Olympus E-PL9
77
weather proofing
connects via bluetooth
supports focus via touch
good megapixels (21MP)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
heavier than others in class (397g)
77
supports bluetooth
includes focus via touch
good resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon Z50 Landscape photography information
Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography information
79
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Nikon Z mount)
good sized screen (3.2 inches)
good megapixels (21 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
good ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
no image stabilization
80
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon Z50
Vlogging with Olympus E-PL9
71
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen
features face detection focus
great video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with external mic jack
no image stabilization
heavier than others in class (397g)
35
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic port
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Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-PL9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon Z50 and Olympus E-PL9
 Nikon Z50Olympus PEN E-PL9
General Information
Brand Nikon Olympus
Model Nikon Z50 Olympus PEN E-PL9
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2019-10-10 2018-02-08
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 6 TruePic VIII
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 21MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5568 x 3712 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 51200 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO 204800 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW data
Minimum enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 209 121
Lens
Lens mount Nikon Z Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 15 107
Crop factor 1.5 2.1
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3.2" 3"
Display resolution 1,040k dot 1,040k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Max quiet shutter speed - 1/16000s
Continuous shutter speed 11.0fps 8.6fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m (at ISO 100) 7.60 m (at ISO 200)
Flash settings - Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 397g (0.88 lb) 380g (0.84 lb)
Dimensions 127 x 94 x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 320 images 350 images
Type of battery Built-in Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL25 -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported)
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $857 $599