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Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A580

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 front
Portability
64
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A580 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Released February 2018
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL8
Sony A580
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Launched May 2011
  • Old Model is Sony A100
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A580 Overview

On this page, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-PL9 and Sony A580, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the A580 (16MP) is relatively close but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and A580 (APS-C) have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL9 was manufactured 6 years after the A580 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting right into a full comparison, here is a concise overview of how the E-PL9 grades vs the A580 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Sony A580

 E-PL9 A580 
LaunchedFebruary 2018May 2011More modern by 82 months
Screen resolution1040k922kCrisper screen (+118k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A580 over the Olympus E-PL9

 A580 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Sony A580

 E-PL9 A580 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A580 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL9 offers outer 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) and the Sony A580 has sizing of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PL9 and Sony A580 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using during that time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL9 and the A580.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A580 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL9 and A580 is 85 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A580 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A580 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to envision the gap in sensor sizes just by viewing a spec sheet. The pic below will provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL9 and A580.

Clearly, the 2 cameras provide the same megapixel count albeit not the same sensor sizes. The E-PL9 has the smaller sensor which is going to make obtaining shallower depth of field trickier. The more modern E-PL9 will have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A580 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A580 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography advice
Sony A580 Portrait photography advice
73
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW formats
73
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Street photography camera
Sony A580 as a Street photography camera
84
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
supports focus by touch
75
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A580 as a Sports photography camera
69
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
78
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking focus
better than average battery (1,050 per charge)
has phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography features
Sony A580 Travel photography features
77
has bluetooth
supports focus by touch
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
does not posses selfie friendly display
60
better than average battery (1,050 shots)
good resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
no Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography info
Sony A580 Landscape photography info
80
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (1,050 shots)
2 card slots
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL9
Vlogging with Sony A580
35
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does not posses selfie friendly display
missing external mic support
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has microphone support
display isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Sony A580
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL9 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2018-02-08 2011-05-26
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VIII Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 25600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 121 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 107 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
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 8.6 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 12.00 m
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, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
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 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 380 grams (0.84 lb) 599 grams (1.32 lb)
Physical dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 80
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.3
DXO Low light score not tested 1121
Other
Battery life 350 images 1050 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One 2
Retail pricing $599 $848