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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic GH2

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 front
Portability
70
Imaging
51
Features
65
Overall
56

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic GH2 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
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL8
Panasonic GH2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 442g - 124 x 90 x 76mm
  • Launched March 2011
  • Old Model is Panasonic GH1
  • Updated by Panasonic GH3
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic GH2 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic GH2, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the GH2 (16MP) is pretty close and both cameras provide the identical sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-PL9 was announced 6 years after the GH2 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief view of how the E-PL9 grades vs the GH2 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Panasonic GH2

 E-PL9 GH2 
LaunchedFebruary 2018March 2011More modern by 84 months
Screen resolution1040k460kClearer screen (+580k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH2 over the Olympus E-PL9

 GH2 E-PL9 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic GH2

 E-PL9 GH2 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic GH2 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera, you'll need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL9 offers external measurements 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 GH2 has specifications of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") having a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic GH2 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL9 vs the GH2.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic GH2 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL9 and GH2 is 85 and 70 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic GH2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic GH2 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes only by looking through specs. The picture here will help give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL9 and GH2.

All in all, both cameras feature the identical sensor size and the same megapixels and you can expect comparable quality of pictures but you should take the age of the cameras into account. The younger E-PL9 should have a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic GH2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic GH2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic GH2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography information
Panasonic GH2 Portrait photography information
73
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
70
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detect focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography information
Panasonic GH2 Street photography information
84
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
provides focus via touch
68
screen articulates
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography advice
Panasonic GH2 Sports photography advice
69
quiet shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect AF
46
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
not so great battery pack (330 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic GH2 as a Travel photography camera
77
connects via bluetooth
provides focus via touch
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is not selfie friendly
62
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
lack of Timelapse function
not so great battery pack (330 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic GH2 Landscape photography highlights
80
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
60
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
not so great battery pack (330 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging info
Panasonic GH2 Vlogging info
35
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
no external microphone port
71
selfie friendly screen
built-in touchscreen
has face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes microphone socket
no image stabilization
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic GH2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic GH2
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Launched 2018-02-08 2011-03-23
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VIII Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
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 Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 200 160
RAW pictures
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 121 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,040k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 8.6 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 15.60 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
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (24, 30, 60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 380g (0.84 lbs) 442g (0.97 lbs)
Physical dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 124 x 90 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 60
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.2
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.3
DXO Low light score not tested 655
Other
Battery life 350 pictures 330 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Price at release $599 $1,000