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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX9V

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
46
Overall
41

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX9V Key Specs

Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Announced November 2011
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PM2
Sony HX9V
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 245g - 105 x 59 x 34mm
  • Released July 2011
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX9V Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus E-PM1 and Sony HX9V, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and HX9V (16MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and HX9V (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PM1 was announced 5 months after the HX9V so they are of a similar generation. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX9V being a Compact camera.

Before we go right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short overview of how the E-PM1 matches up versus the HX9V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Sony HX9V

 E-PM1 HX9V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX9V over the Olympus E-PM1

 HX9V E-PM1 
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Sony HX9V

 E-PM1 HX9V 
ReleasedNovember 2011July 2011Same generation
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX9V Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera often, you'll have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM1 provides outer measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) whilst the Sony HX9V has proportions of 105mm x 59mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PM1 and Sony HX9V in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PM1 against the HX9V.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX9V size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM1 and HX9V is 89 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX9V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX9V Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is difficult to see the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by looking through specs. The picture underneath should give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM1 and HX9V.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PM1 using its bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh simpler and the Sony HX9V will render more detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots more aggressively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX9V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX9V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX9V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX9V as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
39
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography advice
Sony HX9V Street photography advice
75
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
fixed screen
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (245 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PM1
Sports photography with Sony HX9V
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
has no phase detect autofocus
44
great zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography factors
Sony HX9V Travel photography factors
45
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than average (245g)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
great zoom (384mm)
does not have Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PM1
Landscape photography with Sony HX9V
65
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
49
manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Vlogging features
Sony HX9V Vlogging features
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have mic jack
33
relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (245 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone socket
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PM1 vs Sony HX9V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Sony HX9V
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-11-23 2011-07-19
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI 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 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating XtraFine LCD display with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 265 grams (0.58 lb) 245 grams (0.54 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 105 x 59 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photos -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $499 $328