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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FZ70

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70 front
Portability
63
Imaging
40
Features
53
Overall
45

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FZ70 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Introduced February 2018
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL8
Panasonic FZ70
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 20-1200mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 606g - 130 x 97 x 118mm
  • Announced July 2013
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FZ70 Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Olympus E-PL9 versus Panasonic FZ70, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the FZ70 (16MP) is very similar but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and FZ70 (1/2.3") boast different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL9 was introduced 4 years after the FZ70 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ70 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a short summation of how the E-PL9 grades vs the FZ70 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Panasonic FZ70

 E-PL9 FZ70 
AnnouncedFebruary 2018July 2013Newer by 56 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k460kClearer display (+580k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ70 over the Olympus E-PL9

 FZ70 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic FZ70

 E-PL9 FZ70 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FZ70 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL9 features physical dimensions of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") having a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) while the Panasonic FZ70 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 118mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 4.6") having a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL9 versus Panasonic FZ70 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is a front view size comparison of the E-PL9 against the FZ70.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FZ70 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL9 and FZ70 is 85 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FZ70 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FZ70 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The picture below will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL9 and FZ70.

Clearly, the 2 cameras come with the identical resolution but different sensor dimensions. The E-PL9 provides the larger sensor which should make obtaining shallow DOF easier. The more modern E-PL9 should have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FZ70 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FZ70 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FZ70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic FZ70 Portrait photography highlights
73
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
56
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
supports face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography factors
Panasonic FZ70 Street photography factors
84
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
supports touch to focus
49
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
more heavy than average (606g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography details
Panasonic FZ70 Sports photography details
69
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
55
excellent zoom range (20-1200mm 60.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
good battery power (400 per charge)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FZ70 as a Travel photography camera
77
connects via bluetooth
supports touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
screen is not selfie friendly
55
good battery power (400 CIPA)
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (20mm)
very long zoom (1200mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than average (606 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic FZ70 Landscape photography highlights
80
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
54
has manual focus
reasonably wide (20mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
exports RAW files
good battery power (400 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic FZ70 Vlogging highlights
35
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing external mic support
26
reasonably wide (20mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone jack
more heavy than average (606 grams)
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FZ70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic FZ70
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2018-02-08 2013-07-18
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Highest boosted ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 121 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 20-1200mm (60.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - TFT Screen LCD Display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 202 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Highest silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 8.6fps 9.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 13.50 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, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance 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 1920 x 1080 (50i/60i, 25p/30p), 1280 x 720p (50p/60p or 25p/30p), 640 x 480 (25p/30p)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 380 grams (0.84 pounds) 606 grams (1.34 pounds)
Physical dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 130 x 97 x 118mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 4.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 41
DXO Color Depth score not tested 19.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.8
DXO Low light score not tested 171
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 400 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $599 $300