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Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-860

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860 front
Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
42
Overall
40

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-860 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Released February 2018
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL8
Olympus TG-860
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 224g - 110 x 64 x 28mm
  • Launched February 2015
  • Replacement is Olympus TG-870
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-860 Overview

The following is a thorough comparison of the Olympus E-PL9 versus Olympus TG-860, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Waterproof and they are both produced by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the TG-860 (16MP) is relatively similar but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and TG-860 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL9 was brought out 3 years after the TG-860 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-860 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-PL9 matches up against the TG-860 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Olympus TG-860

 E-PL9 TG-860 
LaunchedFebruary 2018February 2015Newer by 37 months
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Screen resolution1040k460kSharper screen (+580k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-860 over the Olympus E-PL9

 TG-860 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Olympus TG-860

 E-PL9 TG-860 
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-860 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to travel with your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL9 has external measurements of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") and a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) whilst the Olympus TG-860 has specifications of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL9 versus Olympus TG-860 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at that moment. Below is a front view size comparison of the E-PL9 against the TG-860.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-860 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL9 and TG-860 is 85 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-860 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-860 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very difficult to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions only by reviewing a spec sheet. The pic below may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL9 and TG-860.

As you can see, both cameras have the same megapixel count albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The E-PL9 has the bigger sensor which will make getting shallower depth of field simpler. The fresher E-PL9 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-860 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-860 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-860 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography information
Olympus TG-860 Portrait photography information
73
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
35
good MP (16MP)
supports face detect focus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL9
Street photography with Olympus TG-860
84
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
has focus by touch
69
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography details
Olympus TG-860 Sports photography details
69
quiet shooting (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
has no phase detect autofocus
48
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
weather sealing
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography features
Olympus TG-860 Travel photography features
77
supports bluetooth
has focus by touch
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
71
weather sealing
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (21mm)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL9
Landscape photography with Olympus TG-860
80
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
47
fairly wide (21mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
weather sealing
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging factors
Olympus TG-860 Vlogging factors
35
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
no mic support
33
fairly wide (21mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
missing mic socket
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-860 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Olympus TG-860
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL9 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Released 2018-02-08 2015-02-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VIII TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Highest boosted ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 200 125
RAW data
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 121 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 21-105mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-5.7
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 8.6 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 4.00 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash modes Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB 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 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Yes
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 380 grams (0.84 lbs) 224 grams (0.49 lbs)
Physical dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 110 x 64 x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 350 images 300 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - Li-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $599 $279