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Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax ist DL2

Portability
85
Imaging
56
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Pentax ist DL2 front
Portability
69
Imaging
45
Features
33
Overall
40

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax ist DL2 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
  • Introduced February 2018
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL8
Pentax ist DL2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 565g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Released January 2006
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax ist DL2 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax ist DL2, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference between the image resolutions of the E-PL9 (16MP) and ist DL2 (6MP) and the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and ist DL2 (APS-C) boast different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL9 was announced 12 years after the ist DL2 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax ist DL2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a concise summary of how the E-PL9 scores vs the ist DL2 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Pentax ist DL2

 E-PL9 ist DL2 
ReleasedFebruary 2018January 2006Newer by 147 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1040k210kSharper screen (+830k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DL2 over the Olympus E-PL9

 ist DL2 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Pentax ist DL2

 E-PL9 ist DL2 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax ist DL2 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to travel with your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL9 provides outside dimensions of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") along with a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) whilst the Pentax ist DL2 has measurements of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") accompanied by a weight of 565 grams (1.25 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax ist DL2 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PL9 and the ist DL2.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax ist DL2 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL9 and ist DL2 is 85 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax ist DL2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax ist DL2 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reviewing specs. The pic here should offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL9 and ist DL2.

All in all, both the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL9 with its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Olympus E-PL9 will offer you greater detail with its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The newer E-PL9 should have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax ist DL2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax ist DL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL9
Portrait photography with Pentax ist DL2
73
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
51
you can focus manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no liveview
resolution not great (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL9
Street photography with Pentax ist DL2
84
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
has focus by touch
60
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
lighter than others (565 grams)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL9
Sports photography with Pentax ist DL2
69
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
no phase detect AF
39
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
no liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (6MP)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax ist DL2 as a Travel photography camera
77
supports bluetooth
has focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has built in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
52
lighter than others (565 grams)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse recording
resolution not great (6 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography information
Pentax ist DL2 Landscape photography information
80
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
47
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
no liveview
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (6 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging advice
Pentax ist DL2 Vlogging advice
35
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external microphone port
22
lighter than others (565g)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low quality video ( pixels)
lack of external microphone support
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax ist DL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Pentax ist DL2
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Pentax ist DL2
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL9 Pentax ist DL2
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2018-02-08 2006-01-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 6 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 3008 x 2008
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Highest boosted ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 200 200
RAW format
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 121 5
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF
Number of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.5"
Display resolution 1,040k dots 210k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting rate 8.6fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.60 m (at ISO 200) -
Flash settings Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM -
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 -
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In No
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 380 gr (0.84 lbs) 565 gr (1.25 lbs)
Physical dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 65
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 639
Other
Battery life 350 images -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/MMC card
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $599 -