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Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus VR-340

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Olympus VR-340 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus VR-340 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Revealed February 2018
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL8
Olympus VR-340
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-240mm (F3.0-5.7) lens
  • 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2012
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus VR-340 Overview

On this page, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-PL9 versus Olympus VR-340, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are built by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the VR-340 (16MP) is relatively well matched but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and VR-340 (1/2.3") have different sensor size.

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The E-PL9 was unveiled 6 years after the VR-340 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus VR-340 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a full comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the E-PL9 grades versus the VR-340 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Olympus VR-340

 E-PL9 VR-340 
IntroducedFebruary 2018January 2012More modern by 75 months
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k460kClearer screen (+580k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus VR-340 over the Olympus E-PL9

 VR-340 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Olympus VR-340

 E-PL9 VR-340 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus VR-340 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL9 comes with 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 VR-340 has proportions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL9 versus Olympus VR-340 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PL9 compared to the VR-340.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus VR-340 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL9 and VR-340 is 85 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus VR-340 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus VR-340 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes just by reading through a spec sheet. The pic underneath might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL9 and VR-340.

As you can see, both cameras have the same MP albeit different sensor sizes. The E-PL9 has the bigger sensor which should make achieving shallower DOF simpler. The younger E-PL9 should have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus VR-340 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus VR-340 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus VR-340 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus VR-340 as a Portrait photography camera
73
manual focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
34
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
provides face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Street photography camera
Olympus VR-340 as a Street photography camera
84
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
63
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (125g)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL9
Sports photography with Olympus VR-340
69
silent mode (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
has no phase detect autofocus
44
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
provides tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus VR-340 as a Travel photography camera
77
supports bluetooth
boasts touch to focus
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
screen is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than competition in class (125g)
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
missing Time Lapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography features
Olympus VR-340 Landscape photography features
80
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
43
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL9
Vlogging with Olympus VR-340
35
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
no mic socket
33
rather wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focusing
lighter than competition in class (125 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic socket
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus VR-340 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Olympus VR-340
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Olympus VR-340
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL9 Olympus VR-340
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2018-02-08 2012-01-10
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VIII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 121 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-240mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.0-5.7
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Highest silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 8.6 frames per second -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 4.80 m
Flash modes 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
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 380 grams (0.84 pounds) 125 grams (0.28 pounds)
Physical dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
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 pictures -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID - LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $599 $130