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Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax ist DS2

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Pentax ist DS2 front
Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
33
Overall
39

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax ist DS2 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Released February 2018
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL8
Pentax ist DS2
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 605g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Announced August 2005
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax ist DS2 Overview

In this article, we are evaluating the Olympus E-PL9 versus Pentax ist DS2, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the E-PL9 (16MP) and ist DS2 (6MP) and the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and ist DS2 (APS-C) come with different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL9 was announced 12 years after the ist DS2 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax ist DS2 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting in to a in-depth comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the E-PL9 scores against the ist DS2 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Pentax ist DS2

 E-PL9 ist DS2 
AnnouncedFebruary 2018August 2005More modern by 152 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1040k210kCrisper display (+830k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax ist DS2 over the Olympus E-PL9

 ist DS2 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Pentax ist DS2

 E-PL9 ist DS2 
Manually focus More precise focus
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax ist DS2 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera, you should factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL9 enjoys 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 ist DS2 has sizing of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL9 versus Pentax ist DS2 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the E-PL9 against the ist DS2.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax ist DS2 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL9 and ist DS2 is 85 and 68 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax ist DS2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax ist DS2 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to picture the difference in sensor sizes only by looking through technical specs. The image underneath will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL9 and ist DS2.

As you can tell, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PL9 with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF trickier and the Olympus E-PL9 will render more detail with its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos far more aggressively. The fresher E-PL9 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax ist DS2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax ist DS2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax ist DS2 Portrait photography highlights
73
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
50
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no liveview
megapixel count low (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL9
Street photography with Pentax ist DS2
84
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
offers focus by touch
60
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition (605 grams)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography details
Pentax ist DS2 Sports photography details
69
quiet shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
has no phase detect AF
38
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
no liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography advice
Pentax ist DS2 Travel photography advice
77
connects via bluetooth
offers focus by touch
good resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
display is not selfie friendly
52
lighter than competition (605g)
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse function
megapixel count low (6MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL9
Landscape photography with Pentax ist DS2
80
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
46
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
small screen (2.5")
no liveview
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (6MP)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging advice
Pentax ist DS2 Vlogging advice
35
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
high video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
missing mic jack
22
lighter than competition (605 grams)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution ( pxls)
lack of external microphone port
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Pentax ist DS2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Pentax ist DS2
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Pentax ist DS2
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL9 Pentax ist DS2
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2018-02-08 2005-08-22
Body design 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 megapixel 6 megapixel
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 -
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW photos
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 121 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF
Number of lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 8.6fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt 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
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM -
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 -
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 380 grams (0.84 lbs) 605 grams (1.33 lbs)
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 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 -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/MMC card
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $599 -