Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FS15

Lets take a deeper look at the Olympus E-PL9 versus Panasonic FS15, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the E-PL9 (16MP) and FS15 (12MP) and the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and FS15 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL9 was introduced 9 years later than the FS15 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FS15 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving right into a complete comparison, here is a quick summary of how the E-PL9 grades against the FS15 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PL9 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PL9 Gallery & Panasonic FS15 Gallery.

If you are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL9 offers physical measurements 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 Panasonic FS15 has proportions of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL9 versus Panasonic FS15 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you use at the time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PL9 against the FS15.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL9 and FS15 is 85 and 95 respectively.

Usually, it's tough to envision the difference between sensor measurements just by going over a spec sheet. The photograph below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL9 and FS15.

As you can see, both of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL9 using its larger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-PL9 will offer you extra detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos way more aggressively. The newer E-PL9 will have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.