Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS

Let's look more in depth at the Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Waterproof and they are both produced by Olympus. There exists a sizable gap among the resolutions of the E-PL9 (16MP) and TG-2 iHS (12MP) and the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and TG-2 iHS (1/2.3") boast different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL9 was announced 4 years later than the TG-2 iHS and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera 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-2 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief view of how the E-PL9 grades versus the TG-2 iHS with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL9 & Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL9 Gallery & Olympus TG-2 iHS Gallery.

For those who are aiming to carry your camera frequently, you have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL9 comes with external 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 TG-2 iHS has measurements of 111mm x 67mm x 29mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.1") with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-2 iHS in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you use during that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the E-PL9 versus the TG-2 iHS.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL9 and TG-2 iHS is 85 and 91 respectively.

More often than not, it is difficult to picture the gap in sensor sizing purely by going through technical specs. The graphic underneath may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL9 and TG-2 iHS.

As you can tell, both of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PL9 using its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Olympus E-PL9 will produce more detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more modern E-PL9 should have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.