Clicky

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX9V

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
46
Overall
41

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX9V Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL1s
  • New Model is Olympus E-PL3
Sony HX9V
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 245g - 105 x 59 x 34mm
  • Introduced July 2011
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX9V Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony HX9V, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the E-PL2 (12MP) and HX9V (16MP) and the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and HX9V (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizes.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

The E-PL2 was introduced 5 months before the HX9V so they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX9V being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a simple overview of how the E-PL2 scores against the HX9V with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Sony HX9V

 E-PL2 HX9V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX9V over the Olympus E-PL2

 HX9V E-PL2 
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony HX9V

 E-PL2 HX9V 
IntroducedFebruary 2011July 2011Same generation
Focus manually More precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX9V Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL2 provides outside dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) and the Sony HX9V has dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL2 and Sony HX9V in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the E-PL2 versus the HX9V.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX9V size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL2 and HX9V is 85 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX9V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX9V Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to imagine the difference in sensor measurements simply by looking through specs. The photograph below should give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL2 and HX9V.

All in all, each of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL2 with its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Sony HX9V will render greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images far more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX9V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX9V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX9V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography features
Sony HX9V Portrait photography features
60
you can focus manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
39
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL2
Street photography with Sony HX9V
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no moving screen
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (245 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX9V as a Sports photography camera
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
low frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
low battery (280 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
44
amazing zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography details
Sony HX9V Travel photography details
51
has built in flash
no Time Lapse function
low battery (280 shots)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than competitors in class (245 grams)
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
very long zoom (384mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography factors
Sony HX9V Landscape photography factors
61
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
low battery (280 CIPA)
no Time Lapse function
49
has manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging factors
Sony HX9V Vlogging factors
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic socket
33
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (245 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone port
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Olympus E-PL2 vs Sony HX9V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Sony HX9V
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL2 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-02-11 2011-07-19
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Truepic V BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating XtraFine LCD display with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m 4.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
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) 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 362 grams (0.80 lb) 245 grams (0.54 lb)
Dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 105 x 59 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 280 photos -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $0 $328