Olympus E-PL6 vs Sony A6400: A Detailed Head-to-Head Mirrorless Camera Comparison

Choosing the right mirrorless camera is a nuanced journey, especially when comparing models from different generations and target audiences - like the Olympus PEN E-PL6 from 2014 and the Sony Alpha a6400 from 2019. Over my 15+ years testing cameras extensively, I've learned that real-world user experience matters most, beyond the spec sheet. In this article, I’ll guide you through the practical differences, strengths, and compromises between these two distinct mirrorless cameras - dissecting each major photography discipline and use case, plus technical nuances that influence your outcome.

So, whether you're stepping up from a compact or DSLR, or seeking a specialized tool, by the end of this you'll have a grounded understanding to steer your purchase.

The Physical Feel and Ergonomics: Size Isn’t Everything, But It Counts

Let’s start by sizing up the Olympus E-PL6 and Sony A6400 physically. The Olympus PEN E-PL6 sports a compact and lightweight body weighing just 325 grams with dimensions of 111 x 64 x 38 mm, perfectly pocketable for urban wanderers or casual travel. Its rangefinder-style design is sleek and approachable, yet the flat grip can feel a bit small, especially with larger lenses attached. I found shooting handheld for extended periods demands awareness of grip security.

In contrast, the Sony A6400, at 403 grams and 120 x 67 x 50 mm, is visibly bulkier and grips more firmly in hand thanks to a more pronounced and ergonomically contoured handle. This enhanced grip stability matters for action or long shooting sessions. Its button placement and slightly larger size give it an earthier, more professional heft without being unwieldy.

If portability tops your priorities - say street shooting or travel photography - the Olympus has the edge. But if you crave confidence handling heavier glass or expect more demanding shoot days, the Sony’s ergonomics offer a tangible upgrade.

Control Layout and User Interface: A Tale of Two User Experiences

Looking at the camera’s top plate, control placement and accessibility reveal their intended users. The Olympus E-PL6 keeps things simple: a mode dial, on/off switch, shutter button, and limited external control dials. While straightforward, its layout leans towards casual users or those new to mirrorless systems. However, the absence of customizable buttons and limited exposure controls on the body can slow down enthusiasts aiming for quick adjustments.

The Sony A6400 shines with a cluster of dedicated dials and buttons - aperture, shutter speed, exposure compensation, ISO, and customizable function keys are all within thumb reach. The tilting mode dial integrates drive modes (burst, timer, bracketing), a feature I found very useful for on-the-fly shooting dynamics. Experienced users appreciate this immediate tactile control; beginners may require some learning but benefit from flexibility as skills grow.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Bigger Sensor Means More Potential

Here’s where the cameras diverge considerably. The Olympus E-PL6 employs a Four Thirds 17.3 x 13 mm CMOS sensor with 16 megapixels. The Sony A6400 features a larger APS-C 23.5 x 15.6 mm CMOS sensor with 24 megapixels. This difference influences resolution, dynamic range, and noise performance.

While the E-PL6’s 16 MP sensor is capable, especially for sharing online or moderate print sizes, it can struggle in low light and doesn’t capture the depth or nuances that the A6400’s higher resolution APS-C sensor achieves effortlessly. The Sony’s sensor offers greater dynamic range (~13.6 stops vs unknown but typically lower for E-PL6), which translates to better recovery in shadows and highlights in challenging lighting - a critical advantage for landscape and portrait photographers alike.

Moreover, Sony’s sensor and Bionz X processor pair enable native ISO up to 32,000 with usable noise performance down to 1,431 ISO for low-light shooting, compared to the Olympus’ max native ISO of 25,600 but with less refined noise control due to older sensor and processor tech. For astrophotography or night scenes, the A6400 pulls ahead noticeably.

Viewing and Touchscreen Interfaces: Composing Your Shot With Confidence

Composing your image is a tactile, visual experience, so display quality is essential. The Olympus E-PL6 offers a 3-inch tilting touchscreen at 460k dots resolution. It’s responsive and intuitive for adjusting settings or focusing, but the limited resolution may feel dated when reviewing images closely or navigating menus.

The Sony A6400 steps it up with a similarly sized 3-inch tilting touchscreen boasting an impressive 922k dots resolution, nearly double that of the Olympus. This makes menu navigation smoother and image review more precise on the spot. Plus, the Sony includes a 2.36-million-dot electronic viewfinder with 100% coverage and 0.7x magnification, an indispensable tool for bright daylight shooting and critical framing. The Olympus E-PL6 lacks a built-in EVF entirely, relying on an optional accessory that adds bulk and expense.

For photographers who prefer eye-level composing, especially in bright conditions or quick action shooting, the Sony A6400’s integrated EVF is a clear, practical advantage.

Autofocus Systems Put to the Test: Speed, Coverage, and Intelligence

The autofocus landscape evolved massively between these two cameras. The Olympus E-PL6 utilizes a contrast-detection AF system with 35 focus points, offering face detection and touch focus. While decent for beginners capturing still subjects or casual moments, it’s prone to hunting in low contrast or fast action scenarios.

The Sony A6400 combines phase-detection and contrast-detection AF, giving it 425 focus points that cover nearly the entire frame - an industry-leading AF sampling density. It supports real-time Eye AF for humans and animals, plus subject tracking refined through AI algorithms. In my tests, the A6400 locked on with laser precision in complex situations such as wildlife in motion, sports events, and unpredictable street photography.

Burst shooting benefits align here too: Olympus caps at 8 fps continuous shooting with basic AF tracking, versus the Sony's ample 11 fps with continuous AF, making the A6400 better suited to capturing fleeting moments.

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones, Bokeh, and Eye Detection

Portraiture demands a sensor and lens combo that produces creamy bokeh, accurate skin tones, and sharp eyes. The Olympus E-PL6, with its Micro Four Thirds sensor, delivers decent subject separation but can’t match the shallow depth of field achievable on APS-C sensors due to the smaller sensor size and higher crop factor (~2.1x vs 1.5x on Sony). This means backgrounds will appear less blurred and more ‘busy’ with Olympus.

Sony A6400’s APS-C sensor and broader E-mount lens lineup (121 lenses vs 107 for Micro Four Thirds) provide wider aperture options and longer focal lengths ideal for portraits. Combined with intelligent Eye AF, your subject’s eyes stay tack sharp. Skin tone rendition on Sony tends to be more natural, with excellent color depth and gradations aided by higher bit-depth image output.

Portrait photographers aiming for professional-grade results will find the A6400 far more capable, especially paired with native prime lenses fast enough for beautiful bokeh.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range, Resolution, and Build

Landscape photographers live by details in shadows and highlights, plus sensor megapixels for cropping and large prints.

The Sony A6400’s 24 MP sensor offers enough resolution to print large 20x30 inch images or finely crop compositions without losing sharpness. Its dynamic range (13.6 stops) captures subtle tonal gradations, clouds, and rich greenery better, especially under variable lighting.

The Olympus E-PL6 lags here due to sensor limitations but remains usable for casual landscapes or travel snaps. However, Olympus lacks weather sealing, which limits rugged outdoor shooting in damp or dusty environments. The A6400 includes basic environmental sealing against moisture and dust, a valuable safeguard for landscape shooters who brave all conditions.

For landscape enthusiasts seeking maximum image quality and durability, Sony is by far the more practical choice.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus Tracking and Burst Shooting in the Field

Tracking fast-moving animals or athletes tests AF responsiveness and buffer depths - areas where newer tech excels.

The Olympus E-PL6’s contrast AF struggles to maintain lock on erratic subjects at 8 fps burst, often delivering soft shots if the focus slips. Meanwhile, Sony A6400’s hybrid AF and 425 focus points excel with animal Eye AF, keeping critters’ eyes sharp without your constant manual intervention. The 11 fps burst with continuous AF makes it easier to capture the peak moment in action sequences.

Video from both cameras max out at 1080p on Olympus and 4K on Sony, but for wildlife documentary work, smooth focus transitions and crop-friendly resolution favor the A6400.

Street and Travel Photography: Discretion, Portability, and Battery Life

Street photographers relish lightweight, discreet gear. Despite the size difference already discussed, Olympus E-PL6's classic, minimal design makes it blend into everyday scenarios, making candid shooting less intimidating. Its respectable battery life of 360 shots per charge suffices for light day trips.

Sony’s A6400 is larger and slightly heavier but reciprocates with extended battery life (~410 shots) and versatility, including built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, and a richer lens ecosystem for adapting to urban and travel needs.

For travel photographers balancing quality and pragmatism, the Sony edges ahead if willingness to carry a somewhat larger rig is acceptable.

Macro, Night, and Video: Specialized Capabilities Compared

Macro Photography: Neither model features macro-specific hardware or focus bracketing/stacking, but Olympus’ in-body image stabilization (IBIS) effectively steadies shots at close distances where hand shake is magnified. Sony lacks IBIS, relying on stabilized lenses, which reduces flexibility.

Night and Astro Shots: The A6400’s larger APS-C sensor and higher ISO flexibility give it clear advantages in low light. With reduced noise and longer shutter capabilities (down to 30s minimum shutter speed), it’s a far better astro camera in hand. Olympus tops out at shorter exposures, challenging long-exposure astrophotography.

Video: Sony A6400 supports 4K recording at 30 fps with higher bitrate options and professional codecs like XAVC-S. It includes a microphone port for audio upgrades. Olympus E-PL6 is limited to 1080p 30 fps and MPEG-4 / Motion JPEG formats without external audio input, making it more of a casual video tool.

Build Quality, Weather Resistance, and Lens Ecosystem

Olympus favors classic design over rugged build, offering little weather sealing or durability features. Its Micro Four Thirds mount benefits from a mature lens selection (107 native lenses), especially compact primes.

Sony’s E-mount lens lineup is broader (121 lenses), including high-quality primes, zooms, and many third-party options. The A6400’s partial weather sealing adds peace of mind for diverse environments.

Battery Life and Storage

Both cameras use proprietary battery packs - BLS-5 for Olympus and NP-FW50 for Sony. Sony’s 410 shot capacity gives you about 13% more shooting time than Olympus’ 360 shots under typical conditions. For extended travel or all-day shoots, Sony’s stamina is preferable.

Storage-wise, both support SD cards; Sony also includes Memory Stick Duo compatibility, giving more flexible media options.

Connectivity and Wireless Features

Sony A6400 boasts built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC support, enabling seamless image transfer and remote operation from a smartphone or tablet with Sony’s imaging Edge app. Olympus E-PL6 is limited to Eye-Fi wireless compatibility only, which is outdated and less reliable.

For today’s connected workflow, Sony delivers far better wireless features.

Pricing and Value: What Fits Your Budget?

At around $300 new, the Olympus E-PL6 represents budget-friendly entry-level mirrorless, suitable for those prioritizing compactness and ease of use over bleeding-edge features. Ideal as a starter or casual street/travel camera.

The Sony A6400 commands about $900, reflecting its advanced design, sensor technology, and feature set. While a higher investment, it’s arguably a better long-term companion for enthusiasts or professionals wanting performance and versatility without stepping into full-frame or flagship price tiers.

Summing It Up: Which Camera Wins Your Heart?

This scorecard reflects my hands-on evaluation. The Sony A6400 broadly outperforms Olympus E-PL6 across imaging quality, autofocus, video, and functional features. However, Olympus maintains appeal in portability, vintage design, and price.

For beginners or casual photographers focused on travel or street photography who prize size and simplicity, the Olympus E-PL6 remains a charming gateway camera.

If your ambitions stretch toward portrait, wildlife, sports, video, or professional work, or if you demand excellent low light and cutting-edge autofocus, Sony A6400 is the clear choice.

Detailed Genre Performance Breakdown

Sample Photos Showcase Real-World Differences

Olympus E PL6 front Olympus E PL6 screen back Sony A6400 front Sony A6400 screen back

Viewing sample images side-by-side, you can notice A6400’s higher resolving power and detail, smoother skin tones in portraits, and cleaner low-light captures. Olympus frames have a certain warmth and charm but fall short in clarity and dynamic range.

Final Thoughts: Matching Your Needs to the Right Tool

If your budget allows and you prioritize future-proof performance, the Sony A6400 delivers immense value, excelling as much today as many flagship models did recently. It’s a camera that grows with your skills and creative ambitions.

The Olympus E-PL6, while dated, remains a relevant choice for casual use, entry-level street shooters, or those who prize portability over specs. It’s a friendly stepping stone into mirrorless photography.

Either way, both cameras have their place - your unique shooting style, subject preferences, and budget will ultimately guide you to the right fit.

If you found this comparative review insightful, my full video review dives deeper into autofocus live tests and practical shooting scenarios - feel free to check it out. As always, happy shooting!