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Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax E90

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Pentax Optio E90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
11
Overall
24

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax E90 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Revealed February 2018
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL8
Pentax E90
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 32-95mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 145g - 102 x 59 x 25mm
  • Announced January 2010
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax E90 Overview

Following is a complete comparison of the Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax E90, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a big difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL9 (16MP) and E90 (10MP) and the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and E90 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL9 was introduced 8 years after the E90 which is quite a big gap as far as tech 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 E90 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the E-PL9 grades vs the E90 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Pentax E90

 E-PL9 E90 
AnnouncedFebruary 2018January 2010More modern by 98 months
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kSharper screen (+810k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax E90 over the Olympus E-PL9

 E90 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Pentax E90

 E-PL9 E90 
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax E90 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera often, you will have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL9 features physical measurements of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") with a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) while the Pentax E90 has specifications of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") having a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax E90 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use at the time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the E-PL9 and the E90.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax E90 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL9 and E90 is 85 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax E90 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax E90 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to picture the gap between sensor sizes only by going over technical specs. The image below will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL9 and E90.

As you have seen, both cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PL9 with its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Olympus E-PL9 will deliver extra detail using its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more recent E-PL9 should have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax E90 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax E90 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax E90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL9
Portrait photography with Pentax E90
73
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
exports RAW formats
19
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
low MP (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography information
Pentax E90 Street photography information
84
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
comes with focus via touch
47
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography features
Pentax E90 Sports photography features
69
silent shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
has no phase detect auto focus
16
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax E90 as a Travel photography camera
77
supports bluetooth
comes with focus via touch
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
screen is not selfie friendly
50
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse recording
low MP (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (32mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL9
Landscape photography with Pentax E90
80
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
22
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (32mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
no image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL9
Vlogging with Pentax E90
35
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone port
22
wide angle not fantastic (32mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone port
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax E90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Pentax E90
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Pentax Optio E90
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL9 Pentax Optio E90
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2018-02-08 2010-01-25
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VIII Prime
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Max enhanced ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW images
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 121 3
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 32-95mm (3.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing range - 6cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter speed 8.6fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (15 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 380 grams (0.84 pounds) 145 grams (0.32 pounds)
Dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 102 x 59 x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 350 shots -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID - 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $599 $100