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Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax MX-1 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
  • Revealed February 2018
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL8
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Introduced July 2013
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Pentax MX-1

 E-PL9 MX-1 
IntroducedFebruary 2018July 2013More recent by 57 months
Screen resolution1040k920kClearer screen (+120k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Olympus E-PL9

 MX-1 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Pentax MX-1

 E-PL9 MX-1 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

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

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL9
Portrait photography with Pentax MX-1
73
focusing manually
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
42
you can focus manually
includes face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography info
Pentax MX-1 Street photography info
84
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
offers focus via touch
65
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
small sensor size (1/1.7")
more heavy than competition in class (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography highlights
69
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
lacks phase detect autofocus
43
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (290 per charge)
low frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Travel photography camera
77
supports bluetooth
offers focus via touch
decent MP (16MP)
built-in flash
screen is not selfie friendly
61
better than average battery pack (290 CIPA)
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (391 grams)
low megapixels (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography features
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography features
80
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
55
you can focus manually
fairly wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (290 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging information
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging information
35
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing microphone port
33
fairly wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone jack
more heavy than competition in class (391g)
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Pentax MX-1
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Pentax MX-1
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL9 Pentax MX-1
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2018-02-08 2013-07-01
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias 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 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 121 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 4.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter speed 8.6 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 380 gr (0.84 lb) 391 gr (0.86 lb)
Physical dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 49
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 208
Other
Battery life 350 pictures 290 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $599 $400