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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS4

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
33
Overall
34

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS4 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Released February 2018
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL8
Panasonic TS4
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 197g - 103 x 64 x 27mm
  • Launched January 2012
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FT4
  • Replaced the Panasonic TS3
  • New Model is Panasonic TS5
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS4 Overview

In this write-up, we are contrasting the Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS4, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Waterproof by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the E-PL9 (16MP) and TS4 (12MP) and the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and TS4 (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL9 was released 6 years later than the TS4 and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic TS4 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a in-depth comparison, below is a concise overview of how the E-PL9 scores versus the TS4 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Panasonic TS4

 E-PL9 TS4 
LaunchedFebruary 2018January 2012More recent by 74 months
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1040k230kSharper display (+810k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic TS4 over the Olympus E-PL9

 TS4 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic TS4

 E-PL9 TS4 
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS4 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera, you need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL9 comes with external measurements of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") and a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) whilst the Panasonic TS4 has specifications of 103mm x 64mm x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1") and a weight of 197 grams (0.43 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS4 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at the time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the E-PL9 against the TS4.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS4 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL9 and TS4 is 85 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS4 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS4 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to imagine the gap between sensor measurements purely by reading through specifications. The graphic here may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL9 and TS4.

Plainly, both cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL9 because of its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Olympus E-PL9 will resolve greater detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics a little more aggressively. The younger E-PL9 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS4 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS4 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS4 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography info
Panasonic TS4 Portrait photography info
73
focusing manually
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
exports RAW files
21
no manual focus
no external flash support
MP count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic TS4 as a Street photography camera
84
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
includes focus via touch
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography advice
Panasonic TS4 Sports photography advice
69
silent shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect auto focus
38
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking autofocus
weather proof
great battery pack (310 shots)
max shutter speed is low (1/1,300 seconds)
max fps very slow (4.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL9
Travel photography with Panasonic TS4
77
supports bluetooth
includes focus via touch
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
66
great battery pack (310 per charge)
weather proof
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL9
Landscape photography with Panasonic TS4
80
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
41
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
great battery pack (310 CIPA)
no manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL9
Vlogging with Panasonic TS4
35
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
no external mic support
32
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone support
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic TS4 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic TS4
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-FT4
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Released 2018-02-08 2012-01-31
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
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 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 121 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-128mm (4.6x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1300 secs
Max silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 8.6 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 5.60 m
Flash settings 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
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 380g (0.84 lb) 197g (0.43 lb)
Dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 103 x 64 x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 shots 310 shots
Form 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, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $599 $399