Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony W610

Here, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-PL9 versus Sony W610, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the W610 (14MP) is pretty close but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and W610 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL9 was announced 6 years later than the W610 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W610 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a full comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the E-PL9 matches up against the W610 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN E-PL9 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W610. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL9 Gallery & Sony W610 Gallery.

If you are intending to carry your camera, you will have to factor 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") accompanied by a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) and the Sony W610 has measurements of 93mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 113 grams (0.25 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL9 versus Sony W610 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PL9 against the W610.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL9 and W610 is 85 and 97 respectively.

Quite often, it can be hard to see the gap in sensor sizing only by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic below will offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL9 and W610.

Clearly, each of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PL9 using its bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Olympus E-PL9 will result in greater detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs way more aggressively. The more modern E-PL9 is going to have an advantage in sensor technology.