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Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony HX20V Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Revealed February 2018
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL8
Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Introduced July 2012
  • Replaced the Sony HX10V
  • Updated by Sony HX30V
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony HX20V Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-PL9 versus Sony HX20V, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the HX20V (18MP) is relatively similar but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and HX20V (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL9 was launched 5 years later than the HX20V and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX20V being a Compact camera.

Before going into a in depth comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the E-PL9 grades versus the HX20V for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Sony HX20V

 E-PL9 HX20V 
IntroducedFebruary 2018July 2012More recent by 68 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k922kCrisper screen (+118k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Olympus E-PL9

 HX20V E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Sony HX20V

 E-PL9 HX20V 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL9 has got outside measurements of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") along with a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) while the Sony HX20V has specifications of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL9 versus Sony HX20V in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PL9 and the HX20V.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL9 and HX20V is 85 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to see the difference between sensor measurements just by reading specifications. The photograph here will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL9 and HX20V.

To sum up, both of these cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL9 due to its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Sony HX20V will offer you extra detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The younger E-PL9 is going to have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Portrait photography camera
73
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
45
you can focus manually
decent MP (18 megapixels)
features face detection autofocus
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography information
Sony HX20V Street photography information
84
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
features touch focus
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (254 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography info
Sony HX20V Sports photography info
69
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
no phase detect autofocus
49
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Travel photography camera
77
supports bluetooth
features touch focus
good resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
69
lighter than others in class (254 grams)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
missing Timelapse function
does not contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography details
Sony HX20V Landscape photography details
80
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
50
you can focus manually
rather wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18MP)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX20V as a Vlogging camera
35
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone port
34
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (254 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone port
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Sony HX20V
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL9 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2018-02-08 2012-07-20
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest enhanced ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 121 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,040 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter speed 8.6 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 7.10 m
Flash options Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
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 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 380 gr (0.84 pounds) 254 gr (0.56 pounds)
Physical dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 320 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $599 $397