Clicky

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony NEX-5T

Portability
85
Imaging
56
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5T front
Portability
89
Imaging
58
Features
79
Overall
66

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

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Launched February 2018
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL8
Sony NEX-5T
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 276g - 111 x 59 x 39mm
  • Announced August 2013
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-5R
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony NEX-5T Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Olympus E-PL9 versus Sony NEX-5T, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the NEX-5T (16MP) is very well matched but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and NEX-5T (APS-C) have different sensor size.

Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

The E-PL9 was launched 4 years after the NEX-5T which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple view of how the E-PL9 grades versus the NEX-5T when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video
	
	

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

 E-PL9 NEX-5T 
AnnouncedFebruary 2018August 2013Newer by 55 months
Display resolution1040k922kClearer display (+118k dot)

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

 NEX-5T E-PL9 
Selfie screen Take selfies

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

 E-PL9 NEX-5T 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Touch display Easily navigate

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

For those who are going to travel with your camera often, you need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL9 offers 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) whilst the Sony NEX-5T has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL9 versus Sony NEX-5T in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL9 against the NEX-5T.

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

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL9 and NEX-5T is 85 and 89 respectively.

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

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

Usually, its hard to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions just by reading through technical specs. The pic below should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL9 and NEX-5T.

As you have seen, both of the cameras provide the same resolution but different sensor dimensions. The E-PL9 contains the tinier sensor which will make obtaining shallow depth of field more challenging. The fresher E-PL9 provides a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

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

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

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony NEX-5T Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography factors
Sony NEX-5T Portrait photography factors
73
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW files
74
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL9
Street photography with Sony NEX-5T
84
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
includes touch to focus
80
tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
supports focus by touch
great ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL9
Sports photography with Sony NEX-5T
69
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect AF
69
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
supports phase detect autofocus
lack of image stabilization
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL9
Travel photography with Sony NEX-5T
77
has bluetooth
includes touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
77
supports focus by touch
good MP (16MP)
selfie friendly display
missing Timelapse recording
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography features
Sony NEX-5T Landscape photography features
80
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
70
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
missing Timelapse recording
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging features
Sony NEX-5T Vlogging features
35
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
lack of external microphone socket
73
selfie friendly display
screen is touchscreen
has face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lack of image stabilization
missing external microphone support
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony NEX-5T Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Sony NEX-5T
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Sony Alpha NEX-5T
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL9 Sony Alpha NEX-5T
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2018-02-08 2013-08-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias 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 25600
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 121 99
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,040k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - Tilt Up 180° Down 50° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting rate 8.6 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 7.00 m (ISO100)
Flash options 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
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160s
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 1920 x1080 (60p/60i/24p)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 380g (0.84 lb) 276g (0.61 lb)
Physical dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 111 x 59 x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 78
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1015
Other
Battery life 350 pictures 330 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes ((10/2 sec. delay), Self-timer (Cont.) (with 10 sec. delay; 3/5 exposures))
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $599 $400