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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL9

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL9 Key Specs

Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Launched July 2009
  • New Model is Olympus E-P2
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
  • Introduced February 2018
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL8
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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL9 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Olympus E-P1 versus Olympus E-PL9, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras and both of them are sold by Olympus. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the E-P1 (12MP) and E-PL9 (16MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-P1 was manufactured 9 years earlier than the E-PL9 and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go straight to a thorough comparison, here is a quick summation of how the E-P1 scores against the E-PL9 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Olympus E-PL9

 E-P1 E-PL9 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Olympus E-P1

 E-PL9 E-P1 
IntroducedFebruary 2018July 2009More recent by 103 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k230kClearer display (+810k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-P1 and Olympus E-PL9

 E-P1 E-PL9 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL9 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera, you're going to have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-P1 has outer measurements of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") having a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs) and the Olympus E-PL9 has specifications 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 Olympus E-P1 versus Olympus E-PL9 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the E-P1 compared to the E-PL9.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL9 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-P1 and E-PL9 is 86 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL9 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL9 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to visualize the gap between sensor measurements simply by looking at a spec sheet. The photograph here will provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P1 and E-PL9.

As you can see, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You can expect to see the Olympus E-PL9 to give more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images a bit more aggressively. The older E-P1 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL9 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL9 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography factors
Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography factors
60
you can focus manually
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
73
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Street photography details
Olympus E-PL9 Street photography details
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
84
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
includes touch to focus
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P1
Sports photography with Olympus E-PL9
40
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12MP)
low battery power (300 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
69
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Travel photography features
Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography features
43
does not have Time Lapse mode
low battery power (300 shots)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
77
connects via bluetooth
includes touch to focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
display isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography highlights
60
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
low battery power (300 shots)
does not have Time Lapse mode
80
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P1
Vlogging with Olympus E-PL9
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic socket
35
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
high video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
no external microphone socket
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Olympus E-P1 vs Olympus E-PL9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P1 and Olympus E-PL9
 Olympus PEN E-P1Olympus PEN E-PL9
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-P1 Olympus PEN E-PL9
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2009-07-29 2018-02-08
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V TruePic VIII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 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
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Min enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 121
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
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 rate 3.0fps 8.6fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 7.60 m (at ISO 200)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 355 grams (0.78 lb) 380 grams (0.84 lb)
Physical dimensions 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 536 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 shots 350 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported)
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $182 $599