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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL9

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL9 Key Specs

Olympus E-420
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 426g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Launched June 2008
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-410
Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Announced February 2018
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL8
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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL9 Overview

Following is a complete comparison of the Olympus E-420 and Olympus E-PL9, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are produced by Olympus. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and E-PL9 (16MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-420 was brought out 10 years earlier than the E-PL9 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short summation of how the E-420 grades versus the E-PL9 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Olympus E-PL9

 E-420 E-PL9 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Olympus E-420

 E-PL9 E-420 
AnnouncedFebruary 2018June 2008More modern by 117 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1040k230kClearer display (+810k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Olympus E-PL9

 E-420 E-PL9 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL9 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-420 comes with outside measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") and a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Olympus E-PL9 has sizing of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") along with a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-420 and Olympus E-PL9 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have at the time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the E-420 versus the E-PL9.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL9 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-420 and E-PL9 is 77 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL9 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL9 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizes simply by looking through a spec sheet. The image here will help offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-420 and E-PL9.

Clearly, both of these cameras feature the identical sensor size but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Olympus E-PL9 to result in extra detail having its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos way more aggressively. The more aged E-420 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL9 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL9 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography info
Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography info
56
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
low MP (10MP)
73
manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography details
Olympus E-PL9 Street photography details
64
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition (426 grams)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
84
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
offers focus by touch
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography details
Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography details
38
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
terrible battery life (500 shots)
69
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography highlights
Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography highlights
52
lighter than competition (426 grams)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse recording
terrible battery life (500 shots)
low MP (10MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
77
has bluetooth
offers focus by touch
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-420
Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL9
47
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
terrible battery life (500 shots)
missing Timelapse recording
80
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-420
Vlogging with Olympus E-PL9
9
lack of video recording
35
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does not have selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone jack
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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Olympus E-PL9
 Olympus E-420Olympus PEN E-PL9
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-420 Olympus PEN E-PL9
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2008-06-23 2018-02-08
Body design Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III TruePic VIII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Min enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 3 121
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Max quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0fps 8.6fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 7.60 m (at ISO 200)
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution None 3840x2160
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 426g (0.94 lbs) 380g (0.84 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 527 not tested
Other
Battery life 500 images 350 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported)
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $999 $599