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Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Announced February 2018
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL8
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Announced October 2011
  • Old Model is Sony NEX-5
  • Successor is Sony NEX-5R
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Following is a detailed review of the Olympus E-PL9 and Sony NEX-5N, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by rivals Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the NEX-5N (16MP) is pretty comparable but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and NEX-5N (APS-C) possess different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL9 was brought out 6 years after the NEX-5N which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going through a in depth comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the E-PL9 grades versus the NEX-5N in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Sony NEX-5N

 E-PL9 NEX-5N 
AnnouncedFebruary 2018October 2011More modern by 78 months
Screen resolution1040k920kCrisper screen (+120k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Olympus E-PL9

 NEX-5N E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Sony NEX-5N

 E-PL9 NEX-5N 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL9 has exterior dimensions of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") and a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5N has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL9 and Sony NEX-5N in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Here is the front view size comparison of the E-PL9 versus the NEX-5N.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL9 and NEX-5N is 85 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to picture the gap in sensor sizes purely by seeing technical specs. The image below will give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL9 and NEX-5N.

As you can tell, both of the cameras posses the exact same megapixels albeit different sensor sizes. The E-PL9 has the smaller sensor which will make getting shallower DOF harder. The more recent E-PL9 provides a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography features
73
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
73
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography info
Sony NEX-5N Street photography info
84
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
boasts touch focus
80
screen tilts
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
provides focus via touch
good high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography info
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography info
69
silent mode (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
58
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good battery life (460 per charge)
no image stabilization
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL9
Travel photography with Sony NEX-5N
77
connects via bluetooth
boasts touch focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not contain selfie friendly screen
70
good battery life (460 CIPA)
provides focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography features
Sony NEX-5N Landscape photography features
80
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
71
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (460 CIPA)
no image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Vlogging camera
35
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
missing mic jack
33
touchscreen enabled
supports face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
lack of external mic jack
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Sony NEX-5N
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL9 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2018-02-08 2011-10-03
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII Bionz
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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Highest enhanced ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 121 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter speed 8.6 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 12.00 m
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, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 380g (0.84 pounds) 269g (0.59 pounds)
Dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 77
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 1079
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 460 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $599 $550