Clicky

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FZ80

Portability
85
Imaging
56
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 front
Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
62
Overall
51

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FZ80 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Launched February 2018
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL8
Panasonic FZ80
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 20-1200mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 616g - 130 x 94 x 119mm
  • Revealed January 2017
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FZ82
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FZ80 Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic FZ80, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the FZ80 (18MP) is relatively close but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and FZ80 (1/2.3") use different sensor sizes.

Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

The E-PL9 was brought out 14 months later than the FZ80 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ80 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving in to a detailed comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the E-PL9 scores against the FZ80 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Panasonic FZ80

 E-PL9 FZ80 
RevealedFebruary 2018January 2017Fresher by 14 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ80 over the Olympus E-PL9

 FZ80 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic FZ80

 E-PL9 FZ80 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Screen resolution1040k1040kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FZ80 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera, you will want to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL9 comes with physical measurements of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) and the Panasonic FZ80 has dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 119mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.7") along with a weight of 616 grams (1.36 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic FZ80 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilising at the time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PL9 and the FZ80.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FZ80 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL9 and FZ80 is 85 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FZ80 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FZ80 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing just by viewing specs. The visual below should give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL9 and FZ80.

All in all, both cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PL9 because of its bigger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic FZ80 will result in more detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will let you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more recent E-PL9 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FZ80 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FZ80 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FZ80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic FZ80 Portrait photography advice
73
focusing manually
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW files
58
focusing manually
MP count good (18MP)
includes face detection focusing
saves RAW files
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FZ80 as a Street photography camera
84
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
has focus by touch
54
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
supports touch focus
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
more heavy than average in class (616g)
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL9
Sports photography with Panasonic FZ80
69
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
57
incredible zoom range (20-1200mm 60.0 x zoom)
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
includes tracking autofocus
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography info
Panasonic FZ80 Travel photography info
77
connects via bluetooth
has focus by touch
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
59
supports touch focus
MP count good (18MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (20mm)
long zoom (1200mm)
more heavy than average in class (616 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic FZ80 Landscape photography highlights
80
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
57
focusing manually
relatively wide (20mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
saves RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging features
Panasonic FZ80 Vlogging features
35
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external microphone jack
28
relatively wide (20mm)
touch screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone support
more heavy than average in class (616 grams)
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic FZ80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic FZ80
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80
Alternate name - Lumix DMC-FZ82
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2018-02-08 2017-01-04
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS BSI-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 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Max boosted ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW data
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 121 49
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 20-1200mm (60.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,040k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs 1/16000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 8.6 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 14.10 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync/Red-eye Reduction, 1st Curtain Sync, 2nd Curtain Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC
Max video resolution 3840x2160 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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 None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 380 gr (0.84 lbs) 616 gr (1.36 lbs)
Dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 130 x 94 x 119mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 350 pictures 330 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 images x 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $599 $399