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Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A7S III

Portability
85
Imaging
56
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Sony Alpha A7S III front
Portability
61
Imaging
65
Features
92
Overall
75

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A7S III Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Introduced February 2018
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL8
Sony A7S III
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 80 - 102400 (Boost to 409600)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 699g - 129 x 97 x 81mm
  • Launched July 2020
  • Older Model is Sony A7S II
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A7S III Overview

In this write-up, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A7S III, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-PL9 (16MP) and A7S III (12MP) and the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and A7S III (Full frame) feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL9 was unveiled 3 years before the A7S III and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A7S III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving through a more detailed comparison, below is a short view of how the E-PL9 matches up against the A7S III in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Sony A7S III

 E-PL9 A7S III 

Reasons to pick Sony A7S III over the Olympus E-PL9

 A7S III E-PL9 
LaunchedJuly 2020February 2018Fresher by 29 months
Screen typeFully articulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1440k1040kClearer screen (+400k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Sony A7S III

 E-PL9 A7S III 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A7S III Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera frequently, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL9 provides physical measurements 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 Sony A7S III has dimensions of 129mm x 97mm x 81mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 699 grams (1.54 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A7S III in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have during that time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-PL9 against the A7S III.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A7S III size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL9 and A7S III is 85 and 61 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A7S III top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A7S III Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be tough to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing only by looking at specifications. The graphic here should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL9 and A7S III.

To sum up, each of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PL9 with its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Olympus E-PL9 will give you more detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older E-PL9 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A7S III sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A7S III Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A7S III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography features
Sony A7S III Portrait photography features
73
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
71
you can focus manually
big sensor size (Full frame)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL9
Street photography with Sony A7S III
84
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
offers focus by touch
76
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
offers touch to focus
weather sealing
great ISO range (102,400)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography factors
Sony A7S III Sports photography factors
69
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
has no phase detect autofocus
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
weather sealing
great battery (600 per charge)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
low megapixels (12MP)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography information
Sony A7S III Travel photography information
77
connects via bluetooth
offers focus by touch
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
70
great battery (600 CIPA)
weather sealing
has bluetooth
offers touch to focus
selfie friendly display
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A7S III as a Landscape photography camera
80
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
77
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
great ISO range (102,400)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
great battery (600 per charge)
2 card slots
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging factors
Sony A7S III Vlogging factors
35
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no microphone port
77
selfie friendly display
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes external microphone support
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A7S III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Sony A7S III
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Sony Alpha A7S III
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL9 Sony Alpha A7S III
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Introduced 2018-02-08 2020-07-21
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII Bionz XR
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4240 x 2832
Highest native ISO 6400 102400
Highest boosted ISO 25600 409600
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW photos
Min boosted ISO 100 50
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 121 759
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Number of lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Display type Tilting Fully articulated
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,040k dots 1,440k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 9,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.91x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 8.6 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.60 m (at ISO 200) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off no built-in flash
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 120p / 280 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.265, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 100p / 280 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.265, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 200 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.265, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 50p / 200 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.265, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 140 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.265, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 140 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.265, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.265, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 120p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 100p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 50 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, XAVC S, XAVC HS, XAVC S-1, H.264, H.265
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 380 grams (0.84 pounds) 699 grams (1.54 pounds)
Dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 129 x 97 x 81mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 85
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.3
DXO Low light score not tested 2993
Other
Battery life 350 shots 600 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) Dual SD/CFexpress Type A slots
Card slots 1 Two
Retail pricing $599 $3,499