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Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-4

Portability
85
Imaging
56
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Olympus Tough TG-4 front
Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-4 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Launched February 2018
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL8
Olympus TG-4
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 247g - 112 x 66 x 31mm
  • Introduced April 2015
  • Superseded the Olympus TG-3
  • Updated by Olympus TG-5
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-4 Overview

Here, we are evaluating the Olympus E-PL9 versus Olympus TG-4, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Waterproof and both of them are sold by Olympus. The resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the TG-4 (16MP) is fairly well matched but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and TG-4 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL9 was brought out 2 years after the TG-4 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus TG-4 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a thorough comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the E-PL9 matches up vs the TG-4 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Olympus TG-4

 E-PL9 TG-4 
IntroducedFebruary 2018April 2015More modern by 35 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k460kSharper display (+580k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-4 over the Olympus E-PL9

 TG-4 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Olympus TG-4

 E-PL9 TG-4 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-4 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera often, you have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL9 has got physical dimensions of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) whilst the Olympus TG-4 has proportions of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") having a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL9 versus Olympus TG-4 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL9 against the TG-4.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-4 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL9 and TG-4 is 85 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-4 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-4 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to envision the gap between sensor sizes just by looking at a spec sheet. The picture here might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL9 and TG-4.

Clearly, both of these cameras come with the identical megapixel count but not the same sensor sizes. The E-PL9 provides the larger sensor which should make obtaining shallower DOF easier. The more recent E-PL9 will have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-4 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-4 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-4 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL9
Portrait photography with Olympus TG-4
73
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
exports RAW files
47
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography features
Olympus TG-4 Street photography features
84
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
supports focus via touch
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
heavier than competitors in class (247g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography information
Olympus TG-4 Sports photography information
69
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect auto focus
48
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
has tracking focus
weather proof
better than average battery pack (380 per charge)
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography highlights
Olympus TG-4 Travel photography highlights
77
supports bluetooth
supports focus via touch
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
74
better than average battery pack (380 CIPA)
weather proof
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
heavier than competitors in class (247g)
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus TG-4 as a Landscape photography camera
80
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
62
manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
better than average battery pack (380 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus TG-4 as a Vlogging camera
35
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
missing external microphone port
34
quite wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not offer selfie friendly display
doesn't have mic support
heavier than competitors in class (247g)
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus TG-4 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Olympus TG-4
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Olympus Tough TG-4
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL9 Olympus Tough TG-4
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Launched 2018-02-08 2015-04-13
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Max enhanced ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 121 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.0-4.9
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 8.6 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 7.90 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash settings Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
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 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 380g (0.84 lbs) 247g (0.54 lbs)
Physical dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2")
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 380 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $599 $379