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Olympus E-PL1s vs Sigma SD9

Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
43
Overall
46
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Sigma SD9 front
Portability
54
Imaging
39
Features
27
Overall
34

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sigma SD9 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1s
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Revealed November 2010
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL1
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL2
Sigma SD9
(Full Review)
  • 3MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sigma SA Mount
  • 950g - 152 x 120 x 79mm
  • Launched November 2002
  • Refreshed by Sigma SD10
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Sigma SD9 Overview

Below is a in-depth analysis of the Olympus E-PL1s vs Sigma SD9, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sigma. There is a sizable difference among the resolutions of the E-PL1s (12MP) and SD9 (3MP) and the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and SD9 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL1s was announced 8 years later than the SD9 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sigma SD9 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go into a thorough comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the E-PL1s scores against the SD9 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Sigma SD9

 E-PL1s SD9 
LaunchedNovember 2010November 2002More recent by 98 months
Display dimensions2.7"1.8"Larger display (+0.9")
Display resolution230k130kSharper display (+100k dot)

Reasons to pick Sigma SD9 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 SD9 E-PL1s 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Sigma SD9

 E-PL1s SD9 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sigma SD9 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera, you'll need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL1s has external dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Sigma SD9 has specifications of 152mm x 120mm x 79mm (6.0" x 4.7" x 3.1") having a weight of 950 grams (2.09 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL1s vs Sigma SD9 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the E-PL1s against the SD9.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sigma SD9 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL1s and SD9 is 86 and 54 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sigma SD9 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sigma SD9 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is difficult to envision the difference in sensor measurements only by looking through a spec sheet. The photograph underneath should offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL1s and SD9.

As you can see, both the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PL1s using its smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field trickier and the Olympus E-PL1s will render extra detail with its extra 9MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos more aggressively. The newer E-PL1s is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sigma SD9 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sigma SD9 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Sigma SD9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Portrait photography features
Sigma SD9 Portrait photography features
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
exports RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
47
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
doesn't have liveview
MP count low (3 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Street photography highlights
Sigma SD9 Street photography highlights
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no articulating screen
43
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than average in class (950g)
low maximum ISO (400)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Sports photography features
Sigma SD9 Sports photography features
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
low megapixels (12MP)
low battery power (290 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
36
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (3MP)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Travel photography with Sigma SD9
52
flash built-in
no Time Lapse recording
low battery power (290 shots)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
29
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than average in class (950 grams)
MP count low (3MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography factors
Sigma SD9 Landscape photography factors
55
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
low megapixels (12MP)
low battery power (290 per charge)
no Time Lapse recording
41
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sigma SA mount)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
small screen (1.8")
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (3MP)
low maximum ISO (400)
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging info
Sigma SD9 Vlogging info
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic socket
9
no video
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Sigma SD9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Sigma SD9
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sSigma SD9
General Information
Brand Olympus Sigma
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1s Sigma SD9
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2010-11-16 2002-11-26
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS (Foveon X3)
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 20.7 x 13.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 285.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 3 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 2268 x 1512
Highest native ISO 6400 400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
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 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sigma SA
Total lenses 107 76
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.7
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 1.8 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 130k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.77x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160s 1/180s
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) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334 grams (0.74 pounds) 950 grams (2.09 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 152 x 120 x 79mm (6.0" x 4.7" x 3.1")
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 290 pictures -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC Compact Flash Type I or II
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $599 $3,001