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Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus 7030

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Olympus Stylus 7030 front
Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
27
Overall
32

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus 7030 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Launched February 2018
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL8
Olympus 7030
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28-196mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 140g - 93 x 56 x 26mm
  • Launched January 2010
  • Alternative Name is mju 7030
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus 7030 Overview

In this write-up, we will be matching up the Olympus E-PL9 versus Olympus 7030, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are designed by Olympus. The resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the 7030 (14MP) is relatively similar but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and 7030 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL9 was released 8 years after the 7030 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus 7030 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the E-PL9 matches up vs the 7030 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Olympus 7030

 E-PL9 7030 
LaunchedFebruary 2018January 2010More modern by 99 months
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kClearer screen (+810k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus 7030 over the Olympus E-PL9

 7030 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Olympus 7030

 E-PL9 7030 
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus 7030 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL9 has outer dimensions of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") having a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) whilst the Olympus 7030 has specifications of 93mm x 56mm x 26mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 140 grams (0.31 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL9 versus Olympus 7030 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using at the time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the E-PL9 vs the 7030.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus 7030 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL9 and 7030 is 85 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus 7030 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus 7030 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to see the difference between sensor sizes simply by reviewing specs. The image underneath might provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL9 and 7030.

All in all, both of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL9 because of its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Olympus E-PL9 will offer you extra detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The younger E-PL9 is going to have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus 7030 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus 7030 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus 7030 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography details
Olympus 7030 Portrait photography details
73
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW files
28
good MP (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL9
Street photography with Olympus 7030
84
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
has touch to focus
57
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography details
Olympus 7030 Sports photography details
69
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
does not have phase detect AF
39
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
low fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL9
Travel photography with Olympus 7030
77
supports bluetooth
has touch to focus
good resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
65
good MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography features
Olympus 7030 Landscape photography features
80
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
37
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
small screen (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL9
Vlogging with Olympus 7030
35
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
high video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
lack of mic socket
29
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
no external mic socket
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus 7030 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Olympus 7030
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Olympus Stylus 7030
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL9 Olympus Stylus 7030
Alternate name - mju 7030
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2018-02-08 2010-01-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII TruePic III
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 16:9 and 4:3
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Highest boosted ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 200 64
RAW files
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 121 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-196mm (7.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.0-5.9
Macro focus range - 2cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 1,040k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting rate 8.6fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 5.70 m
Flash settings Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 640x480
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 380 gr (0.84 lb) 140 gr (0.31 lb)
Dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 93 x 56 x 26mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 350 photographs -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SC/SDHC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $599 $179