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Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax P70

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Pentax Optio P70 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
20
Overall
28

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax P70 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Expand 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 P70
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 155g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Introduced March 2009
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax P70 Overview

Here is a comprehensive assessment of the Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax P70, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Ultracompact by brands Olympus and Pentax. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the E-PL9 (16MP) and P70 (12MP) and the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and P70 (1/2.3") come with different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL9 was unveiled 9 years later than the P70 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax P70 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief view of how the E-PL9 grades against the P70 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Pentax P70

 E-PL9 P70 
IntroducedFebruary 2018March 2009Fresher by 109 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kCrisper screen (+810k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax P70 over the Olympus E-PL9

 P70 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Pentax P70

 E-PL9 P70 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax P70 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL9 has got physical dimensions 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 P70 has measurements of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") having a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax P70 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-PL9 and the P70.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax P70 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL9 and P70 is 85 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax P70 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax P70 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizing simply by viewing specifications. The visual below will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL9 and P70.

Plainly, both of these cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PL9 having a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Olympus E-PL9 will render greater detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots far more aggressively. The younger E-PL9 provides a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax P70 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax P70 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax P70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL9
Portrait photography with Pentax P70
73
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
27
you can focus manually
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography info
Pentax P70 Street photography info
84
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
offers touch focus
47
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
more heavy than competition in class (155g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography info
Pentax P70 Sports photography info
69
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
lacks phase detect AF
17
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,000s)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax P70 as a Travel photography camera
77
has bluetooth
offers touch focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
56
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (155 grams)
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL9
Landscape photography with Pentax P70
80
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
32
you can focus manually
rather wide (28mm)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not available
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging features
Pentax P70 Vlogging features
35
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
doesn't have mic socket
25
rather wide (28mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone socket
more heavy than competition in class (155g)
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax P70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Pentax P70
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Pentax Optio P70
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL9 Pentax Optio P70
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Revealed 2018-02-08 2009-03-02
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Max enhanced ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 200 64
RAW images
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 121 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-110mm (3.9x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8-5.0
Macro focusing distance - 10cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1000 seconds
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter rate 8.6 frames per second -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 4.60 m
Flash options Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off -
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (15 fps), 848 x 480 (15 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 380 gr (0.84 pounds) 155 gr (0.34 pounds)
Dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9")
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 photographs -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $599 $200