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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GX9

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
43
Overall
46
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 front
Portability
82
Imaging
61
Features
80
Overall
68

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GX9 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Released May 2010
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL1s
Panasonic GX9
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 407g - 124 x 72 x 47mm
  • Announced February 2018
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GX9 Overview

On this page, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GX9, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and GX9 (20MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL1 was unveiled 8 years before the GX9 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a short highlight of how the E-PL1 matches up versus the GX9 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Panasonic GX9

 E-PL1 GX9 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GX9 over the Olympus E-PL1

 GX9 E-PL1 
AnnouncedFebruary 2018May 2010More recent by 94 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1240k230kClearer screen (+1010k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic GX9

 E-PL1 GX9 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GX9 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL1 features outside measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Panasonic GX9 has proportions of 124mm x 72mm x 47mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.9") along with a weight of 407 grams (0.90 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GX9 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL1 vs the GX9.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GX9 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and GX9 is 86 and 82 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GX9 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GX9 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's difficult to picture the gap between sensor measurements purely by looking at technical specs. The graphic underneath might give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1 and GX9.

As you have seen, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You can count on the Panasonic GX9 to give greater detail having an extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The older E-PL1 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GX9 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GX9 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GX9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL1
Portrait photography with Panasonic GX9
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
76
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography factors
Panasonic GX9 Street photography factors
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen does not articulate
84
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
provides touch to focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography details
Panasonic GX9 Sports photography details
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (290 per charge)
lack of phase detect AF
73
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect autofocus
terrible battery (260 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography advice
Panasonic GX9 Travel photography advice
52
built-in flash
no Time Lapse recording
terrible battery life (290 per charge)
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
71
supports bluetooth
provides touch to focus
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
terrible battery (260 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic GX9 Landscape photography advice
55
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7")
low MP (12MP)
terrible battery life (290 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
77
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
does not have anti aliasing filter
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
terrible battery (260 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging factors
Panasonic GX9 Vlogging factors
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic socket
35
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic GX9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic GX9
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2010-05-17 2018-02-13
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V Venus Engine
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 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Lowest boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 49
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dots 1,240k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,760k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Maximum silent shutter speed - 1/16000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per second 9.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 6.00 m (at ISO 200)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 334g (0.74 pounds) 407g (0.90 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 124 x 72 x 47mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 54 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 487 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 images 260 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 photos over 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported)
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $288 $1,000