Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax KP

Below is a in-depth overview of the Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax KP, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There exists a big gap among the image resolutions of the E-PL9 (16MP) and KP (24MP) and the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and KP (APS-C) have totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL9 was introduced 13 months later than the KP which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax KP being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a full comparison, here is a short overview of how the E-PL9 matches up against the KP with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL9 enjoys exterior measurements of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") having a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) and the Pentax KP has specifications of 132mm x 101mm x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 703 grams (1.55 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax KP in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL9 compared to the KP.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL9 and KP is 85 and 61 respectively.

Typically, its tough to see the contrast in sensor measurements simply by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic underneath might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL9 and KP.

Clearly, both cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL9 with its smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Pentax KP will result in greater detail using its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The younger E-PL9 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.