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Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony NEX-7

Portability
85
Imaging
56
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-7 front
Portability
84
Imaging
64
Features
71
Overall
66

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony NEX-7 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Introduced February 2018
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL8
Sony NEX-7
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 400g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
  • Revealed December 2011
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony NEX-7 Overview

In this write-up, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony NEX-7, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. There exists a sizable gap between the resolutions of the E-PL9 (16MP) and NEX-7 (24MP) and the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and NEX-7 (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL9 was launched 6 years after the NEX-7 which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the E-PL9 matches up vs the NEX-7 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Sony NEX-7

 E-PL9 NEX-7 
RevealedFebruary 2018December 2011Newer by 75 months
Screen resolution1040k921kCrisper screen (+119k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-7 over the Olympus E-PL9

 NEX-7 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Sony NEX-7

 E-PL9 NEX-7 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony NEX-7 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL9 has external dimensions of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") with a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) and the Sony NEX-7 has sizing of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony NEX-7 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you use during that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-PL9 vs the NEX-7.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony NEX-7 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL9 and NEX-7 is 85 and 84 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony NEX-7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony NEX-7 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to see the gap between sensor dimensions merely by looking at technical specs. The picture below will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL9 and NEX-7.

As you can tell, both cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL9 featuring a tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF harder and the Sony NEX-7 will resolve greater detail utilizing its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The younger E-PL9 is going to have an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony NEX-7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography information
Sony NEX-7 Portrait photography information
73
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
78
you can focus manually
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography factors
Sony NEX-7 Street photography factors
84
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
provides touch to focus
76
screen tilts
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography highlights
Sony NEX-7 Sports photography highlights
69
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
no phase detect autofocus
62
good megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
good battery power (430 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography details
Sony NEX-7 Travel photography details
77
supports bluetooth
provides touch to focus
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
70
good battery power (430 CIPA)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL9
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-7
80
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
72
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
good megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (430 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-7 as a Vlogging camera
35
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
doesn't have mic socket
35
comes with face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external microphone jack
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony NEX-7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Sony NEX-7
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Sony Alpha NEX-7
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL9 Sony Alpha NEX-7
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced 2018-02-08 2011-12-13
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 16000
Max boosted ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 121 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Number of lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,040k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 8.6 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 6.00 m
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, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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 lbs) 400g (0.88 lbs)
Dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 81
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 24.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 1016
Other
Battery life 350 images 430 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 or 5 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 One One
Retail price $599 $699