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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS20

Portability
85
Imaging
56
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS20 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
28
Overall
34

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS20 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Announced February 2018
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL8
Panasonic TS20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-100mm (F3.9-5.7) lens
  • 142g - 101 x 58 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2012
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FT20
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS20 Overview

Following is a detailed analysis of the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic TS20, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Waterproof by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the TS20 (16MP) is relatively close but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and TS20 (1/2.3") use different sensor size.

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The E-PL9 was manufactured 6 years after the TS20 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic TS20 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a more detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-PL9 scores against the TS20 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Panasonic TS20

 E-PL9 TS20 
LaunchedFebruary 2018January 2012More modern by 74 months
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kSharper screen (+810k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic TS20 over the Olympus E-PL9

 TS20 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic TS20

 E-PL9 TS20 
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS20 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL9 features outside measurements of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") along with a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) while the Panasonic TS20 has measurements of 101mm x 58mm x 19mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") and a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic TS20 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PL9 against the TS20.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS20 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL9 and TS20 is 85 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS20 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be tough to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes purely by researching specs. The pic below might give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL9 and TS20.

All in all, the 2 cameras offer the same exact resolution albeit different sensor sizes. The E-PL9 uses the bigger sensor which is going to make getting shallow DOF easier. The more recent E-PL9 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography details
Panasonic TS20 Portrait photography details
73
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
30
good megapixels (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography highlights
Panasonic TS20 Street photography highlights
84
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
provides touch to focus
67
image stabilization (Optical)
weather proofing
lighter than competition in class (142 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography info
Panasonic TS20 Sports photography info
69
silent shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect autofocus
41
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
weather proofing
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300s)
max frames per second low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL9
Travel photography with Panasonic TS20
77
has bluetooth
provides touch to focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
70
lighter than competition in class (142 grams)
weather proofing
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic TS20 Landscape photography advice
80
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
41
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
weather proofing
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
small screen (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic TS20 as a Vlogging camera
35
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external microphone socket
31
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (142 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic support
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic TS20
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS20
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS20
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-FT20
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Announced 2018-02-08 2012-01-31
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VIII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 121 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.9-5.7
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1300 seconds
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting rate 8.6 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 4.40 m
Flash options Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
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 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 380g (0.84 pounds) 142g (0.31 pounds)
Dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 101 x 58 x 19mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7")
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 photographs 250 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at launch $599 $179