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Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A55

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
55
Features
80
Overall
65

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A55 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Announced February 2018
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL8
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Announced August 2010
  • Later Model is Sony A57
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A55 Overview

Below, we are analyzing the Olympus E-PL9 and Sony A55, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the A55 (16MP) is very similar but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and A55 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL9 was announced 7 years after the A55 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the E-PL9 grades vs the A55 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Sony A55

 E-PL9 A55 
AnnouncedFebruary 2018August 2010More modern by 91 months
Display resolution1040k921kClearer display (+119k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Olympus E-PL9

 A55 E-PL9 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Sony A55

 E-PL9 A55 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera often, you need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL9 provides exterior 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) whilst the Sony A55 has measurements of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL9 and Sony A55 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the E-PL9 and the A55.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL9 and A55 is 85 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to envision the gap between sensor sizes merely by going over a spec sheet. The image underneath will help give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL9 and A55.

Clearly, both of those cameras posses the exact same resolution but not the same sensor sizes. The E-PL9 comes with the tinier sensor which should make getting shallower depth of field more difficult. The newer E-PL9 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A55 as a Portrait photography camera
73
focusing manually
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
73
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL9
Street photography with Sony A55
84
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
comes with focus via touch
76
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography factors
Sony A55 Sports photography factors
69
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
not so great battery pack (380 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography information
Sony A55 Travel photography information
77
connects via bluetooth
comes with focus via touch
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
screen is not selfie friendly
61
good resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
missing Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (380 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography factors
Sony A55 Landscape photography factors
80
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
67
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
not so great battery pack (380 per charge)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A55 as a Vlogging camera
35
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic port
77
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external mic port
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Sony A55
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PL9 Sony SLT-A55
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2018-02-08 2010-08-24
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 121 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 107 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,040k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter speed 8.6 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
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, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 secs
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 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic 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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 380g (0.84 lb) 500g (1.10 lb)
Dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 73
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 816
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 380 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $599 $800