Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax MX-1

Lets look a bit more closely at the Olympus E-PL9 versus Pentax MX-1, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the E-PL9 (16MP) and MX-1 (12MP) and the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and MX-1 (1/1.7") posses totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL9 was launched 4 years later than the MX-1 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a brief overview of how the E-PL9 grades versus the MX-1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL9 and Pentax MX-1. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PL9 Gallery and Pentax MX-1 Gallery.

If you are planning to lug around your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL9 enjoys 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 MX-1 has measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") along with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL9 versus Pentax MX-1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you select at that moment. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the E-PL9 and the MX-1.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL9 and MX-1 is 85 and 84 respectively.

Often, it is tough to see the difference between sensor measurements purely by reading technical specs. The visual here will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL9 and MX-1.

As you can tell, each of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL9 due to its bigger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field easier and the Olympus E-PL9 will offer greater detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots way more aggressively. The newer E-PL9 will have an advantage in sensor tech.