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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FX580

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
29
Overall
32

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FX580 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
Panasonic FX580
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 167g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Launched January 2009
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FX550
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FX580 Overview

Below is a in-depth overview of the Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FX580, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the E-PL9 (16MP) and FX580 (12MP) and the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and FX580 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL9 was announced 9 years later than the FX580 and that is a fairly sizable gap 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 Panasonic FX580 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a in depth comparison, here is a concise view of how the E-PL9 grades versus the FX580 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Panasonic FX580

 E-PL9 FX580 
LaunchedFebruary 2018January 2009More recent by 110 months
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k230kCrisper screen (+810k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX580 over the Olympus E-PL9

 FX580 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic FX580

 E-PL9 FX580 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FX580 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL9 has 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) whilst the Panasonic FX580 has sizing of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FX580 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the E-PL9 against the FX580.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FX580 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL9 and FX580 is 85 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FX580 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FX580 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to see the contrast in sensor measurements merely by checking out a spec sheet. The visual here will provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL9 and FX580.

As you can see, both cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PL9 having a bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Olympus E-PL9 will provide extra detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures more aggressively. The younger E-PL9 is going to have an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FX580 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FX580 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FX580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic FX580 Portrait photography advice
73
manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
exports RAW files
26
has face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
low resolution (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography details
Panasonic FX580 Street photography details
84
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
supports focus by touch
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography details
Panasonic FX580 Sports photography details
69
silent shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
has no phase detect AF
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow fps (2.0 fps)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FX580 as a Travel photography camera
77
supports bluetooth
supports focus by touch
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
58
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
does not have Timelapse function
low resolution (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography info
Panasonic FX580 Landscape photography info
80
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
36
relatively wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual exposure
low resolution (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FX580 as a Vlogging camera
35
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external mic jack
30
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FX580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic FX580
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-FX550
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2018-02-08 2009-01-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VIII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 1600
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW photos
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 121 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-125mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,040k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting rate 8.6 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
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 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
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 gr (0.84 lbs) 167 gr (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 shots -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $599 $499