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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZR1

Portability
85
Imaging
56
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZR1 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
  • Announced February 2018
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL8
Panasonic ZR1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Announced July 2009
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-ZX1
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZR1 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-PL9 versus Panasonic ZR1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a substantial difference between the image resolutions of the E-PL9 (16MP) and ZR1 (12MP) and the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and ZR1 (1/2.3") come with different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL9 was launched 8 years later than the ZR1 and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZR1 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a detailed comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the E-PL9 grades against the ZR1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Panasonic ZR1

 E-PL9 ZR1 
AnnouncedFebruary 2018July 2009More recent by 104 months
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kSharper screen (+810k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR1 over the Olympus E-PL9

 ZR1 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic ZR1

 E-PL9 ZR1 
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZR1 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL9 offers outside dimensions of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") with a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) while the Panasonic ZR1 has proportions of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") along with a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL9 versus Panasonic ZR1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the E-PL9 against the ZR1.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZR1 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL9 and ZR1 is 85 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZR1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZR1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to imagine the gap between sensor measurements only by reviewing technical specs. The photograph here should give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL9 and ZR1.

As you can tell, both of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-PL9 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Olympus E-PL9 will offer more detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The newer E-PL9 provides a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZR1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography details
Panasonic ZR1 Portrait photography details
73
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
21
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZR1 as a Street photography camera
84
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
provides focus via touch
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZR1 as a Sports photography camera
69
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
has no phase detect autofocus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography information
Panasonic ZR1 Travel photography information
77
connects via bluetooth
provides focus via touch
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
57
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
missing Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZR1 Landscape photography details
80
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
32
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7")
no manual mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging information
Panasonic ZR1 Vlogging information
35
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone support
28
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone jack
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZR1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic ZR1
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-ZX1
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2018-02-08 2009-07-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VIII Venus Engine V
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 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 -
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW pictures
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 121 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-200mm (8.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 1,040k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Max silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter speed 8.6 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 5.10 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
Auto exposure bracketing
WB 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), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 380g (0.84 pounds) 158g (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
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 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $599 $280