Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax XG-1

Here is a complete assessment of the Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax XG-1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the XG-1 (16MP) is pretty comparable but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and XG-1 (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL9 was announced 3 years later than the XG-1 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax XG-1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving into a more detailed comparison, here is a short summary of how the E-PL9 matches up against the XG-1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN E-PL9 & Pentax XG-1. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-PL9 Gallery & Pentax XG-1 Gallery.

In case you're looking to carry your camera, you will want to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL9 offers external measurements of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") having a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) whilst the Pentax XG-1 has sizing of 119mm x 89mm x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") having a weight of 567 grams (1.25 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax XG-1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you select at the time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the E-PL9 compared to the XG-1.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL9 and XG-1 is 85 and 66 respectively.

Quite often, it is very tough to visualize the gap in sensor sizing merely by going through a spec sheet. The graphic below should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL9 and XG-1.

Clearly, both of the cameras feature the identical megapixels albeit different sensor sizing. The E-PL9 features the bigger sensor which will make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult. The more modern E-PL9 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.