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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL9

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL9 Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
  • Announced February 2011
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-3
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
  • Revealed February 2018
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL8
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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL9 Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-5 and Olympus E-PL9, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are manufactured by Olympus. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-5 (12MP) and E-PL9 (16MP) but they use the exact same sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-5 was introduced 8 years earlier than the E-PL9 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a concise summation of how the E-5 scores vs the E-PL9 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Olympus E-PL9

 E-5 E-PL9 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Olympus E-5

 E-PL9 E-5 
RevealedFebruary 2018February 2011Newer by 85 months
Display resolution1040k920kClearer display (+120k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Olympus E-PL9

 E-5 E-PL9 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL9 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-5 has got exterior measurements of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) while 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 the Olympus E-5 and Olympus E-PL9 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the E-5 compared to the E-PL9.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL9 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-5 and E-PL9 is 58 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL9 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL9 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to imagine the difference in sensor dimensions purely by researching a spec sheet. The pic here may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-5 and E-PL9.

Clearly, both of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Olympus E-PL9 to provide you with greater detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images much more aggressively. The more aged E-5 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL9 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL9 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 Portrait photography features
Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography features
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
73
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-PL9 as a Street photography camera
71
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
environment proof
84
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
has touch focus
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 Sports photography details
Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography details
59
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment proof
supports phase detect autofocus
max frames per second very slow (5.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
69
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 Travel photography information
Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography information
56
environment proof
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
77
supports bluetooth
has touch focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 Landscape photography details
Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography details
65
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
environment proof
two card slots
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
80
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 Vlogging info
Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging info
64
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
comes with mic socket
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
35
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic support
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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-PL9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Olympus E-PL9
 Olympus E-5Olympus PEN E-PL9
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-5 Olympus PEN E-PL9
Category Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2011-02-03 2018-02-08
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V+ TruePic VIII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW files
Minimum boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 121
Cross type focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 920k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology HyperCrystal transmissive LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/16000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per second 8.6 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 7.60 m (at ISO 200)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
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 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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 800 gr (1.76 pounds) 380 gr (0.84 pounds)
Dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 519 not tested
Other
Battery life 870 pictures 350 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLM-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported)
Card slots 2 One
Price at launch $1,700 $599