Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax 645D

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.

Photography Glossary

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.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL9 & Pentax 645D. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-PL9 Gallery & Pentax 645D Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.