Olympus E-PL5 vs Sony A9

Lets look more closely at the Olympus E-PL5 versus Sony A9, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL5 (16MP) and A9 (24MP) and the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and A9 (Full frame) posses totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL5 was revealed 5 years prior to the A9 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the E-PL5 grades vs the A9 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL5 and Sony Alpha A9. The full galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL5 Gallery and Sony A9 Gallery.

If you're intending to carry your camera frequently, you'll have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL5 comes with outer dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Sony A9 has proportions of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") and a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL5 versus Sony A9 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you choose during that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the E-PL5 and the A9.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL5 and A9 is 88 and 65 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's hard to envision the gap between sensor sizing merely by checking specifications. The photograph below will give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL5 and A9.

Plainly, both of those cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PL5 with its tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF tougher and the Sony A9 will give more detail because of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The older E-PL5 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.