Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony TX20

Here, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-PL9 and Sony TX20, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the TX20 (16MP) is relatively similar but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and TX20 (1/2.3") boast different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The E-PL9 was manufactured 6 years after the TX20 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony TX20 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief overview of how the E-PL9 matches up against the TX20 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL9 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20. The entire galleries are available at Olympus E-PL9 Gallery and Sony TX20 Gallery.

In case you're looking to travel with your camera, you have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL9 provides physical 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) whilst the Sony TX20 has measurements of 96mm x 56mm x 18mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL9 and Sony TX20 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-PL9 and the TX20.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL9 and TX20 is 85 and 96 respectively.

Often, it is very difficult to picture the gap between sensor dimensions purely by reading specifications. The pic underneath will provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL9 and TX20.

To sum up, both the cameras feature the identical resolution albeit different sensor dimensions. The E-PL9 offers the bigger sensor which will make obtaining shallow depth of field less difficult. The younger E-PL9 should have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.