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Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL9

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL9 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 414g - 125 x 85 x 50mm
  • Revealed October 2019
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-M5 II
  • Later Model is OM System OM-5
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
  • Released February 2018
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL8
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL9 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL9, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are created by Olympus. There is a substantial difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-M5 III (20MP) and E-PL9 (16MP) but they feature the same exact sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-M5 III was announced 21 months later than the E-PL9 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going through a full comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the E-M5 III scores versus the E-PL9 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Olympus E-PL9

 E-M5 III E-PL9 
ReleasedOctober 2019February 2018Fresher by 21 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Olympus E-M5 III

 E-PL9 E-M5 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 III and Olympus E-PL9

 E-M5 III E-PL9 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Screen resolution1040k1040kSame screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL9 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M5 III comes with external dimensions of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") along with a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL9 has proportions of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") and a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL9 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the E-M5 III vs the E-PL9.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL9 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 III and E-PL9 is 80 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL9 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL9 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to visualize the gap between sensor sizing only by reviewing specs. The visual underneath may offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 III and E-PL9.

As you can plainly see, both cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different MP. You can count on the Olympus E-M5 III to offer you extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The younger E-M5 III should have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL9 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL9 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Portrait photography info
Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography info
77
has manual focus
decent MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW formats
73
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-PL9 as a Street photography camera
83
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
offers focus via touch
environment proof
great high ISO (25,600)
84
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
has touch focus
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Sports photography details
Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography details
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
max frames per second high (30.0 fps)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
low battery (310 shots)
69
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Travel photography factors
Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography factors
77
environment proof
has bluetooth
offers focus via touch
decent MP (20MP)
selfie friendly screen
low battery (310 CIPA)
77
has bluetooth
has touch focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Landscape photography info
Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography info
77
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
low battery (310 CIPA)
80
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Vlogging highlights
Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging highlights
84
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focus
video res high (4096 x 2160 pixels)
includes external mic support
35
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no microphone support
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Olympus E-PL9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Olympus E-PL9
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIOlympus PEN E-PL9
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Olympus PEN E-PL9
Category Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2019-10-17 2018-02-08
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VIII TruePic VIII
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW pictures
Minimum enhanced ISO 64 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 121 121
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,040k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Max silent shutter speed 1/32000 secs 1/16000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 30.0 frames per second 8.6 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 7.60 m (at ISO 200)
Flash modes Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 4096x2160 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 414 grams (0.91 lb) 380 grams (0.84 lb)
Dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 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 310 photos 350 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported)
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $1,199 $599