Olympus PEN E-PL9 vs Panasonic Lumix GH5: A Hands-On Expert Comparison for Every Photographer

Choosing a mirrorless camera can be a bit like picking a dance partner - you want someone who’s compatible, responsive, and can keep up with your moves. Today, we're putting two very different Micro Four Thirds cameras through their paces: the Olympus PEN E-PL9, an entry-level mirrorless designed for keen beginners and casual enthusiasts, and the Panasonic Lumix GH5, a professional-focused beast catering to serious stills shooters and videographers alike.

Having tested thousands of cameras over 15 years, I’m excited to share an honest, hands-on comparison based on real-world use and technical know-how. Whether you’re shooting portraits, landscapes, or even moonlit skies, I’ll break down how these two stack up – strengths, weaknesses, and who each camera actually suits. Let’s dive in!

First Impressions: Design and Ergonomics

Before touching any buttons, size and feel set important expectations about a camera’s usability. The Olympus E-PL9 is much more compact and light, weighing a mere 380g and measuring 117 x 68 x 39mm. The GH5, with its larger DSLR-style body, nearly doubles that weight at 725g and measures 139 x 98 x 87mm.

The PEN E-PL9 is designed to be a friendly travel companion with a sleek, rangefinder-style look that fits discreetly in one hand or a small bag. It’s great for street shooters or those who hate lugging heavy gear. However, the smaller body limits grip comfort during extended shoots, especially with heavier lenses.

On the flip side, the GH5’s chunkier, SLR-style body offers robust grip and actual clubs for your thumbs, which I appreciate in fast-paced shooting situations like sports or wildlife. Plus, its weather-sealed build (absent on the E-PL9) gives you peace of mind outdoors in tougher conditions.

For controls, the GH5 commands attention with a wealth of buttons and dials strategically placed for pro-level customization and fast operation. The E-PL9, by contrast, keeps things simple and intuitive – a blessing for beginners but potentially frustrating for those wanting granular control.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality

Both cameras use Micro Four Thirds sensors measuring 17.3 x 13mm, which is smaller than APS-C and full-frame sensors. The GH5 ups the ante with a 20MP sensor, while the E-PL9 sticks to 16MP. More megapixels on the GH5 means higher resolution images (5184 x 3888 vs. 4608 x 3456) and a slight edge when cropping or printing large.

However, the GH5's sensor is without an anti-aliasing filter, boosting image sharpness and fine detail retention - a nice pro feature. Conversely, the E-PL9 includes an anti-aliasing filter, softening edges slightly but generally preventing moiré patterns, which can be helpful for casual shooters.

From a real-world perspective, the GH5 exhibits impressively clean images up to ISO 3200, with usable detail even beyond that – a big deal for low-light photography. The E-PL9, while decent, begins to show noise earlier around ISO 1600, limiting its nighttime or indoor usability somewhat.

Dynamic range, a critical factor for landscapes and high-contrast scenes, is clearly better on the GH5 according to DXO Mark data (13 stops vs. untested for E-PL9 but tentatively lower). The GH5’s superior color depth also means richer skin tones and more nuanced hues - a boon for portrait and wedding photographers.

Autofocus: Precision and Speed in Action

Autofocus technology has become a dealbreaker for many photographers, particularly those shooting fast-moving subjects or video.

The E-PL9 features contrast-detection autofocus with 121 focus points and supports face detection and tracking. While contrast AF can be accurate, it tends to be slower, especially under low light or complex scenes.

Meanwhile, the GH5 offers a more sophisticated contrast-detection AF system with 225 focus points plus advanced face detection, continuous AF, eye detection, and even focus bracketing and stacking capabilities. It does not have phase-detection AF, but Panasonic’s Venus Engine processor compensates well, delivering quicker, snappier AF in real-world use.

To put it succinctly: the GH5 feels more confident and responsive tracking birds in flight or athletes mid-game, enabling burst shooting at 12fps with AF tracking versus 8.6fps on the E-PL9. The PEN’s system is perfectly fine for portraits and casual shooting but can miss a beat with rapidly changing subjects.

Handling and User Interface

The touchscreen tilting LCD on the PEN E-PL9 (3.0”, 1.04M-dot) is user-friendly and offers intuitive tap-to-focus and menu control. However, it is only a tilting screen and lacks full articulation, limiting angles especially for vlogging or macro work.

The GH5 boasts a slightly larger (3.2”, 1.62M-dot) fully articulated screen that flips out and around, perfect for creative angles or self-recording. The touchscreen also supports drag AF and gesture controls, enhancing workflow efficiency. Additionally, GH5 has a high-resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 3.68M-dot resolution and 100% coverage, a significant ergonomic and compositional advantage over the optional, non-built-in EVF of the E-PL9.

Other niceties on the GH5 include customizable buttons and a top LCD panel (absent in the E-PL9) giving immediate reference to exposure parameters - features beloved by pros and enthusiast photographers who want minimal menu diving.

Lens Ecosystem and Versatility

Both cameras share the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) lens mount, meaning they tap into a vast ecosystem of over 100 native lenses from Panasonic, Olympus, Sigma, and others - covering everything from ultra-wide to telephoto and specialized macro optics.

The E-PL9 pairs best with Olympus’s compact, lightweight lenses like the 25mm f/1.8 for portraits or the 14-42mm kit zoom for general photography. This maintains the entry-level ethos of portability and fun.

The GH5, however, can harness Panasonic’s and Olympus’s higher-end professional zooms and primes such as the Panasonic 50-200mm f/2.8-4 or Olympus Pro-series lenses. This elevates it into serious terrain for wildlife, sports, and commercial use where reach and image quality critically matter.

Image Stabilization and Low-Light Performance

Both models incorporate sensor-based image stabilization, but the GH5 delivers 5-axis IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization), which I’ve found effective across handheld video shooting as well as longer exposures in low light. The E-PL9 also offers sensor-shift stabilization but more basic and less robust in compensation range.

The GH5’s superior stabilization means you can shoot slower shutter speeds without blur and confidently handle long lenses. This plays notably well in macro and night photography, where tripod avoidance is a plus.

When it comes to maximum ISO, GH5’s extended native range (up to 25600) outperforms E-PL9’s capped 6400, allowing much better noise control in dim environments such as concerts, creative low-light portraits, or astro photography.

Video Capabilities: Who’s the Video Champ?

If video is your main gig, the GH5 is a clear-cut winner. It shoots full 4K UHD at up to 60fps (and cinema 4K at 24fps), supports 10-bit 4:2:2 internal recording, and offers H.264 and AVCHD codecs, giving videographers incredible flexibility and professional-grade footage quality.

It also features dual memory card slots (UHS-II support), microphone and headphone ports, and robust in-body 5-axis stabilization, making it a top pick for serious content creators who require durability and lengthy uninterrupted recordings.

The E-PL9 also shoots 4K but limited to 30fps and only 8-bit 4:2:0 compression; plus, it lacks external mic and headphone jacks. For vloggers or YouTubers on a budget, it’s a competent starter but won’t satisfy pro workflows or high-end production quality requirements.

Specialized Photography Modes: Macro, Night, and More

The GH5 boasts focus bracketing, focus stacking, and post-focus functions, powerful tools for macro shooters or those who want tack-sharp images with extended depth of field – something the E-PL9 cannot do.

Astrophotographers will appreciate GH5’s superior high-ISO performance and long exposure flexibility, aided by its robust build and weather sealing that allow rugged outdoor use.

The PEN, meanwhile, offers timelapse recording and a decent 'Live Composite' mode, but its limited battery life and less rugged body make it more a convenience tool than a hardcore adventure camera.

Battery Life and Storage Flexibility

Battery life hovers around 350 shots for the E-PL9 versus 410 shots for the GH5, not the longest in the industry but reasonable given the form factors and capabilities.

Storage marks a key difference: GH5 supports dual SD card slots, enabling overflow or backup recording - a must-have feature in professional workflows to safeguard images and videos. The single slot on the E-PL9 reflects its entry-level orientation.

Connectivity and Workflow Features

Both cameras come with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for wireless image transfer and remote control using smartphones. However, the GH5 supports USB 3.1 Gen 1 transfer speeds (5 Gbps), significantly faster than the E-PL9’s USB 2.0 (480 Mbps) - an advantage when offloading large 4K video files.

Neither includes GPS or NFC, but that’s par for the course in this segment.

Real-World Sample Images: What Do They Look Like?

Enough specs - let’s see these cameras in action.

Olympus E PL9 front Olympus E PL9 screen back Panasonic GH5 front Panasonic GH5 screen back

Here you can appreciate the GH5’s detailed image rendition and richer tonality, especially in challenging lighting. The E-PL9 produces clean, nice JPEGs straight out of the camera but lacks the grit and dynamic latitude to match the GH5 in complex scenes.

Genre-Specific Performance: Who Excels Where?

Photography disciplines demand different camera traits, so here’s a quick rundown:

• Portraits: GH5’s sharper sensor and better color depth give more natural skin tones and creamy bokeh. E-PL9 is still competent for casual portraits.
• Landscapes: GH5’s dynamic range and resolution clearly lead; weather sealing adds confidence on rough shoots.
• Wildlife: GH5 excels with faster burst and AF tracking; PEN struggles with pace.
• Sports: GH5 dominates with 12fps continuous, responsive AF, and weather resistance.
• Street: E-PL9’s compact, discreet body favored for candid moments.
• Macro: GH5’s focus stacking gives a substantial edge.
• Night/Astro: GH5 better noise handling and stabilization.
• Video: GH5 is the professional video champ; PEN basic 4K for amateurs.
• Travel: PEN’s portability wins; GH5 heavier but more versatile.
• Professional Work: Only GH5 meets reliability, flexibility, and workflow demands.

Overall Performance and Value Scores

When weighing all these aspects, here’s a summarized evaluation:

The GH5 merits a strong overall score thanks to its multiplex of pro features, while the E-PL9 scores well as an entry-level, lightweight option.

Pros and Cons Summary

Olympus PEN E-PL9

Pros:

• Compact, lightweight, and stylish design
• User-friendly interface for beginners
• Good image quality for the class
• Affordable price (~$600)
• Tilting touchscreen, built-in flash

Cons:

• No built-in EVF, no weather sealing
• Slower autofocus performance
• Limited video specs and no mic/headphone ports
• Single SD card slot
• Moderate low-light and dynamic range performance

Panasonic Lumix GH5

Pros:

• Robust, weather-sealed pro build
• Sharp, AA-filterless 20MP sensor
• Fast, accurate autofocus with 225 points
• 5-axis image stabilization
• Full articulated 3.2" touchscreen + large EVF
• Powerful video features (4K 60p, 10-bit 4:2:2)
• Dual UHS-II card slots
• Focus bracketing, stacking, post-focus
• Excellent burst rate (12fps)

Cons:

• Heavier, bulkier body (725g)
• More expensive (~$1300)
• No built-in flash
• Steeper learning curve due to complex controls

Who Should Buy Which?

If you’re a photo enthusiast upgrading from a smartphone or beginner DSLR, shooting mainly portraits, travel, or casual street photography without heavy video demands, the Olympus PEN E-PL9 offers an affordable, lightweight, and capable system that’s easy to carry and use.

On the other hand, if you’re a serious stills or video shooter, especially one focusing on wildlife, sports, macro, or professional work needing robust build, advanced video codecs, and pro-level control, the Panasonic GH5 is in a league of its own - though it demands a financial and operational commitment.

Wrapping Up: The Verdict

In my years of testing, it’s rare to see two cameras that share a lens mount but aim at such different crowds. The Olympus PEN E-PL9 is like that reliable, stylish compact car - perfect for city runs and daily photography errands. The Panasonic GH5 is the muscle car with all the gadgets, ready for track days, cross-country endurance, or creative experiments.

They each shine in their niche: E-PL9 as an affordable and fun gateway to mirrorless photography, GH5 as a versatile pro tool bridging photo and video with excellence.

Ultimately, your choice hinges on your serious intent, budget, and shooting style:

• Budget-conscious traveler and casual photographer? Go PEN E-PL9.
• Professional or aspiring hybrid shooter needing power and flexibility? Invest in GH5.

And remember, both bodies benefit immensely from pairing with quality Micro Four Thirds glass, so budget lens choices accordingly.

Happy shooting - and may your next camera fit your vision as snugly as a glove!

Thanks for reading this in-depth comparison. Feel free to ask any specific questions or share your own experiences with these cameras!