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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL9

Portability
60
Imaging
46
Features
54
Overall
49
Olympus E-30 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL9 Key Specs

Olympus E-30
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 695g - 142 x 108 x 75mm
  • Revealed March 2009
Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Launched February 2018
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL8
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL9 Overview

In this article, we are reviewing the Olympus E-30 and Olympus E-PL9, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are offered by Olympus. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the E-30 (12MP) and E-PL9 (16MP) but they possess the same exact sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-30 was launched 10 years prior to the E-PL9 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise summary of how the E-30 scores vs the E-PL9 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-30 over the Olympus E-PL9

 E-30 E-PL9 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Olympus E-30

 E-PL9 E-30 
LaunchedFebruary 2018March 2009Fresher by 108 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1040k230kSharper display (+810k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-30 and Olympus E-PL9

 E-30 E-PL9 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL9 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry your camera frequently, you will want to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-30 features outside dimensions of 142mm x 108mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") along with a weight of 695 grams (1.53 lbs) and the Olympus E-PL9 has sizing of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") and a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-30 and Olympus E-PL9 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select during that time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-30 against the E-PL9.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL9 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-30 and E-PL9 is 60 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL9 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL9 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's difficult to see the gap in sensor sizing merely by viewing a spec sheet. The photograph below will provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-30 and E-PL9.

Clearly, both cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Olympus E-PL9 to result in greater detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The older E-30 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL9 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL9 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-30
Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL9
59
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
73
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-30
Street photography with Olympus E-PL9
72
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
84
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
offers touch to focus
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-30 Sports photography info
Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography info
51
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (750 per charge)
69
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-30 Travel photography advice
Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography advice
49
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
missing Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (750 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
77
has bluetooth
offers touch to focus
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-30 Landscape photography info
Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography info
52
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
terrible battery pack (750 shots)
missing Timelapse recording
80
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-30 Vlogging advice
Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging advice
18
no video shooting
35
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
no external mic socket
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Olympus E-30 vs Olympus E-PL9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-30 and Olympus E-PL9
 Olympus E-30Olympus PEN E-PL9
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-30 Olympus PEN E-PL9
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2009-03-24 2018-02-08
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ TruePic VIII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Lowest boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 121
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology HyperCrystal II LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 98% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/16000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per sec 8.6 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 7.60 m (at ISO 200)
Flash settings Auto, Manual, Fill, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Slow sync 2nd curtain, Off Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution None 3840x2160
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 695 grams (1.53 lbs) 380 grams (0.84 lbs)
Dimensions 142 x 108 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.3" x 3.0") 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 530 not tested
Other
Battery life 750 shots 350 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLM-1 -
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) / xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported)
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $1,299 $599