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Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax 645D

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Pentax 645D front
Portability
50
Imaging
76
Features
52
Overall
66

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax 645D 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
  • Launched February 2018
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL8
Pentax 645D
(Full Review)
  • 40MP - Medium format Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 1600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • No Video
  • Pentax 645AF2 Mount
  • 1480g - 156 x 117 x 119mm
  • Announced March 2010
  • Successor is Pentax 645Z
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax 645D Overview

Here is a detailed review of the Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax 645D, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Pro DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the E-PL9 (16MP) and 645D (40MP) and the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and 645D (Medium format) enjoy different sensor size.

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The E-PL9 was introduced 8 years later than the 645D and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax 645D being a Large SLR camera.

Before going straight into a full comparison, below is a simple view of how the E-PL9 grades vs the 645D with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Pentax 645D

 E-PL9 645D 
AnnouncedFebruary 2018March 2010Fresher by 97 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k921kSharper screen (+119k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax 645D over the Olympus E-PL9

 645D E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Pentax 645D

 E-PL9 645D 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax 645D Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL9 has outer 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 Pentax 645D has measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7") along with a weight of 1480 grams (3.26 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax 645D in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-PL9 compared to the 645D.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax 645D size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL9 and 645D is 85 and 50 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax 645D top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax 645D Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's hard to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing just by reading through a spec sheet. The graphic here may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL9 and 645D.

Clearly, both of these cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL9 having a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF tougher and the Pentax 645D will resolve greater detail using its extra 24MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The newer E-PL9 provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax 645D sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax 645D Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax 645D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography details
Pentax 645D Portrait photography details
73
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
saves RAW files
77
you can focus manually
high MP (40MP)
large sensor size (Medium format)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Street photography camera
Pentax 645D as a Street photography camera
84
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
provides touch to focus
58
large sensor size (Medium format)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography highlights
Pentax 645D Sports photography highlights
69
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect AF
63
high MP (40MP)
large sensor size (Medium format)
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery power (800 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography features
Pentax 645D Travel photography features
77
has bluetooth
provides touch to focus
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
55
environment proofing
high MP (40MP)
not so great battery power (800 per charge)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography advice
Pentax 645D Landscape photography advice
80
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
72
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
high MP (40MP)
large sensor size (Medium format)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
2 card slots
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery power (800 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging info
Pentax 645D Vlogging info
35
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
missing microphone jack
9
no video recording
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax 645D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Pentax 645D
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Pentax 645D
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL9 Pentax 645D
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro DSLR
Launched 2018-02-08 2010-03-10
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds Medium format
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 40MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 7264 x 5440
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Max boosted ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW pictures
Minimum boosted ISO 100 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 121 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax 645AF2
Amount of lenses 107 6
Focal length multiplier 2.1 0.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,040k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle and with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.85x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting rate 8.6 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.60 m (at ISO 200) no built-in flash
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, Rear Curtain
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/125s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM -
Max video resolution 3840x2160 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
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 None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 380 grams (0.84 lbs) 1480 grams (3.26 lbs)
Dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 156 x 117 x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 82
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 24.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 1262
Other
Battery life 350 shots 800 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
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 slots Single 2
Retail pricing $599 $4,000