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Olympus E-PL9 vs Samsung NX100

Portability
85
Imaging
56
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Samsung NX100 front
Portability
88
Imaging
55
Features
54
Overall
54

Olympus E-PL9 vs Samsung NX100 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Revealed February 2018
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL8
Samsung NX100
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 282g - 120 x 71 x 35mm
  • Revealed September 2010
  • Newer Model is Samsung NX200
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Samsung NX100 Overview

Let's look much closer at the Olympus E-PL9 vs Samsung NX100, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by rivals Olympus and Samsung. The resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the NX100 (15MP) is fairly similar but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and NX100 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL9 was announced 7 years after the NX100 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-PL9 grades vs the NX100 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Samsung NX100

 E-PL9 NX100 
RevealedFebruary 2018September 2010More modern by 91 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k614kClearer display (+426k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Samsung NX100 over the Olympus E-PL9

 NX100 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Samsung NX100

 E-PL9 NX100 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Samsung NX100 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL9 enjoys external dimensions of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") having a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) and the Samsung NX100 has proportions of 120mm x 71mm x 35mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") having a weight of 282 grams (0.62 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL9 vs Samsung NX100 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-PL9 against the NX100.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Samsung NX100 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL9 and NX100 is 85 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Samsung NX100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Samsung NX100 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to imagine the gap between sensor sizes simply by reviewing specs. The picture here might give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL9 and NX100.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-PL9 using its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Olympus E-PL9 will deliver extra detail with its extra 1MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The fresher E-PL9 should have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Samsung NX100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Samsung NX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Samsung NX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL9
Portrait photography with Samsung NX100
73
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
73
focusing manually
decent megapixels (15MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detection focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography highlights
Samsung NX100 Street photography highlights
84
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
provides touch focus
76
built in image stabilization
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL9
Sports photography with Samsung NX100
69
silent shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect autofocus
60
built in image stabilization
decent megapixels (15MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good battery life (420 shots)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography highlights
Samsung NX100 Travel photography highlights
77
connects via bluetooth
provides touch focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
66
good battery life (420 per charge)
decent megapixels (15MP)
lack of Time Lapse function
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography features
Samsung NX100 Landscape photography features
80
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
75
focusing manually
swap lenses (Samsung NX mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization
decent megapixels (15MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
good battery life (420 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging features
Samsung NX100 Vlogging features
35
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic jack
31
built in image stabilization
features face detection focus
does not feature selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic jack
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Samsung NX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Samsung NX100
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Samsung NX100
General Information
Make Olympus Samsung
Model Olympus PEN E-PL9 Samsung NX100
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2018-02-08 2010-09-14
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII DRIMe Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 15 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 121 15
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Samsung NX
Amount of lenses 107 32
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,040k dot 614k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - VGA AMOLED
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter speed 8.6fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.60 m (at ISO 200) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, 1st/2nd Curtain, Smart Flash, Manual
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 380 grams (0.84 pounds) 282 grams (0.62 pounds)
Dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 120 x 71 x 35mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 62
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.7
DXO Low light score not tested 563
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 420 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 sec to 30 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $599 $386