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Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-870

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-870 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Revealed February 2018
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL8
Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Push to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2016
  • Superseded the Olympus TG-860
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-870 Overview

Lets examine more in depth at the Olympus E-PL9 and Olympus TG-870, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Ultracompact and both of them are manufactured by Olympus. The resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the TG-870 (16MP) is relatively comparable but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and TG-870 (1/2.3") use different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL9 was launched 2 years after the TG-870 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving through a full comparison, below is a concise overview of how the E-PL9 matches up versus the TG-870 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Olympus TG-870

 E-PL9 TG-870 
AnnouncedFebruary 2018January 2016Newer by 26 months
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Screen resolution1040k921kClearer screen (+119k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Olympus E-PL9

 TG-870 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Olympus TG-870

 E-PL9 TG-870 
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-870 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL9 enjoys external dimensions of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") with a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) while the Olympus TG-870 has proportions of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") along with a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL9 and Olympus TG-870 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PL9 compared to the TG-870.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-870 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL9 and TG-870 is 85 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-870 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-870 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions simply by going through specs. The image below will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL9 and TG-870.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras have got the exact same megapixels albeit different sensor dimensions. The E-PL9 contains the bigger sensor which is going to make achieving shallow DOF easier. The newer E-PL9 should have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-870 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography advice
Olympus TG-870 Portrait photography advice
73
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
36
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL9
Street photography with Olympus TG-870
84
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
has focus via touch
65
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
heavier than competitors (221 grams)
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus TG-870 as a Sports photography camera
69
quiet shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
does not have phase detect AF
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather sealing
good battery pack (300 per charge)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography features
Olympus TG-870 Travel photography features
77
has bluetooth
has focus via touch
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not contain selfie friendly display
69
good battery pack (300 CIPA)
weather sealing
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (21mm)
heavier than competitors (221 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography details
Olympus TG-870 Landscape photography details
80
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
50
fairly wide (21mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
weather sealing
good battery pack (300 shots)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
no manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging features
Olympus TG-870 Vlogging features
35
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
great video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
does not contain selfie friendly display
lack of microphone jack
32
fairly wide (21mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
no external mic port
heavier than competitors (221 grams)
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-870 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Olympus TG-870
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL9 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Revealed 2018-02-08 2016-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS BSI-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 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO 25600 12800
Min native ISO 200 125
RAW images
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch 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
Total focus points 121 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 21-105mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-5.7
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter speed 8.6 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 4.00 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash options 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
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 380 grams (0.84 lbs) 221 grams (0.49 lbs)
Dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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
Form 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
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $599 $280