Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax P80

On this page, we are analyzing the Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax P80, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a significant gap between the image resolutions of the E-PL9 (16MP) and P80 (12MP) and the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and P80 (1/2.3") boast different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL9 was released 8 years after the P80 which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax P80 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief overview of how the E-PL9 matches up against the P80 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus PEN E-PL9 and Pentax Optio P80. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL9 Gallery and Pentax P80 Gallery.

When you are aiming to travel with your camera often, you need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL9 has outer measurements of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) and the Pentax P80 has specifications of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax P80 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PL9 and the P80.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL9 and P80 is 85 and 95 respectively.

Quite often, it can be difficult to picture the gap between sensor dimensions merely by going over technical specs. The image underneath should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL9 and P80.

As you have seen, each of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL9 because of its larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh easier and the Olympus E-PL9 will offer you greater detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more modern E-PL9 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.