Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus Stylus 9000: Which One Fits Your Photography Style?

Choosing between the Olympus E-PM2 and the Olympus Stylus 9000 might seem like comparing apples with oranges at first. One is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera launched in 2013, while the other is a compact fixed-lens point-and-shoot from 2009. Yet, both occupy unique niches in Olympus’s lineup, catering to different photographers’ needs and preferences. Drawing on years of hands-on testing and image analysis, I’ve put these two through their paces across varied photography scenarios to help you decide which camera deserves a spot in your bag.

Let’s embark on a practical journey through their design, image quality, handling, and performance, illustrated with real-world use cases and technical insights. Whether you crave the versatility of interchangeable lenses or the simplicity of a compact camera, this deep dive has got you covered.

Size, Feel, and Handling: What’s It Like to Hold and Use These Cameras?

Handling can make or break your shooting experience. When it comes to size and ergonomics, the difference between these two Olympus cameras is palpable.

The Olympus E-PM2 sports a rangefinder-style mirrorless body, slightly bigger and heftier (110x64x34 mm, 269 g) compared to the diminutive Olympus Stylus 9000 compact (96x60x31 mm, 225 g). The E-PM2’s grip and control layout are deliberately designed for more serious photography with interchangeable lenses, lending it a sturdy feel in hand. Meanwhile, the Stylus 9000 is ultra-portable and pocket-friendly, perfect for spontaneous snaps and everyday carry.

Taking a top-down look at their control surfaces reveals where usability shines or falls short.

The E-PM2 offers a thoughtfully spaced layout: dedicated dials for shutter speed and exposure compensation, a mode dial, and several customizable buttons. These tactile controls allow quick access to essential settings without diving into menus - a godsend when shooting in challenging conditions. The Stylus 9000, being a compact, opts for a much simpler interface - most settings are accessed through on-screen menus or a small control wheel. There’s no mode dial, manual exposure, or direct control over ISO, which reflects the camera’s design philosophy aimed at casual shooters.

For those who appreciate direct control and grip ergonomics, the E-PM2 wins hands down. But if portability and simplicity are your priorities, the Stylus 9000’s small footprint can’t be beaten.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Camera Battle

Let’s talk sensors - arguably the most crucial component influencing your photos’ clarity, color, and dynamic range.

The Olympus E-PM2 features a Micro Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) CMOS sensor with 16-megapixel resolution. This sensor size is significantly larger than the Stylus 9000’s tiny 1/2.3” CCD sensor measuring just 6.08 x 4.56 mm and offering 12 megapixels. The difference in sensor area (224.9 mm² versus 27.72 mm²) translates into far superior light-gathering ability for the E-PM2, which you’ll appreciate in low-light conditions and when demanding wide dynamic range.

Official lab tests back this up: the E-PM2 scores 72 on DxOMark’s overall scale, with impressive color depth (22.7 bits), dynamic range (12.2 EV), and usable ISO sensitivity up to 932. The Stylus 9000 hasn’t been tested by DxOMark officially, but given the sensor size and generation, its performance is predictably more limited, especially in dynamic range and noise control.

What does this mean practically? You can expect the E-PM2 to capture cleaner, more vibrant images with better shadow and highlight detail, plus greater flexibility for cropping or large prints. The Stylus 9000’s best use is in well-lit conditions, where its smaller sensor can perform adequately but won’t match the subtlety and fidelity of the E-PM2.

Composing Your Shot: Display and Viewfinder Technologies Compared

Viewing and composing your images is as much about comfort and clarity as it is about accuracy.

The E-PM2 sports a 3-inch fixed LCD screen with a 460k-dot resolution and touch sensitivity - something photographers accustomed to smartphones will find intuitive. Although not a top-tier resolution by current standards, it’s comfortably sharp for framing and navigating menus.

The Stylus 9000’s screen is smaller at 2.7 inches and offers just 230k-dot resolution, with no touch functionality. For precise composition, especially under challenging light, this makes a recognizable difference. Neither camera has a built-in viewfinder, but the E-PM2 supports an optional external electronic viewfinder - a valuable addition for shooting in bright environments.

In practice, I found the E-PM2’s touchscreen useful not only for menu control but for focusing and image review, speeding up the workflow. The Stylus 9000’s screen limits quick operation and on-the-fly adjustments, reinforcing its appeal as a ‘point-and-shoot’ rather than a creative tool.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking for Action and Everyday

Let’s zoom in on autofocus performance - one of the biggest differentiators between these two cameras.

The E-PM2 employs a contrast-detection autofocus system with 35 focus points and a variety of continuous, single, and tracking modes. It supports face detection and touch-to-focus on the screen. While it does not have phase-detection points, its performance in well-lit conditions is commendable, managing 8 fps continuous shooting with autofocus. This capability is crucial for wildlife and sports photographers capturing fleeting moments.

In contrast, the Stylus 9000 uses a basic contrast-based AF with no continuous AF mode or face detection. It only offers single focus point operation, suitable mainly for static subjects. Its modest zoom lens further limits tracking performance and reach for distant moving subjects.

Through my real-world tests, the E-PM2’s autofocus was significantly faster and more reliable for action photography and tracking moving subjects. The Stylus 9000 performs admirably for simple snapshots but struggles when conditions or subjects become unpredictable.

Lens Ecosystem and Flexibility: One Lens or Many?

Here, the distinction becomes crystal clear.

The Olympus E-PM2’s Micro Four Thirds mount places it within one of the most extensive mirrorless lens ecosystems available - over 100 native lenses ranging from ultra-wide to super-telephoto, plus adapters for legacy glass. This versatility means you can tailor your kit exactly to your photographic ambitions, whether macro, portraits, sports, landscapes, or astrophotography.

The Stylus 9000, with a fixed 28-280 mm equivalent zoom lens, offers decent range for casual travel or street shooting but cannot be swapped. Its variable aperture of f/3.2-5.9 limits low-light and creative depth-of-field control.

For photographers seeking creative control and growth, the E-PM2’s interchangeable system is an unbeatable advantage. For grab-and-go simplicity and moderate zoom needs, the Stylus 9000 suffices.

Image Stabilization and Low-Light Shooting: Tackling the Shadows

Both cameras feature sensor-based image stabilization, an essential feature especially at slower shutter speeds.

The E-PM2’s stabilization works in tandem with lenses that may have optical stabilization, resulting in effective shake reduction that boosts handheld low-light shooting capabilities. Combined with its better sensor performance and native ISO up to 25600, it excels in dusk, indoor, and night scenes.

Conversely, the Stylus 9000’s sensor-shift stabilization is limited by its older technology and smaller sensor’s noise characteristics. Its ISO tops out at only 1600, and image noise becomes visible even at moderate settings.

For night or astro photography, the E-PM2 has a clear edge, allowing cleaner high-ISO shots and longer exposures, whereas the Stylus 9000’s limitations restrict you to well-lit environments.

Video Capabilities: Beyond Stills - What Can They Capture?

If video is part of your creative toolkit, here is what you’ll find.

The E-PM2 offers Full HD (1920x1080) at 30 fps, along with 720p and VGA modes. It uses MPEG-4 and H.264 compression, plus Motion JPEG, and supports continuous autofocus during recording. Its stabilization helps smooth handheld footage.

The Stylus 9000 caps out at 640x480 VGA resolution, woefully outdated by today’s standards. It also lacks advanced video features like manual exposure during filming or external microphone support.

For casual video snippets, the Stylus will suffice, but for any serious video work, the E-PM2 is miles ahead.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity: Keeping You Shooting

The E-PM2 powered with the BLS-5 battery achieves approximately 360 shots per charge, a respectable figure for a mirrorless camera. It stores images on SD type cards, widely available and flexible.

The Stylus 9000 uses different storage media (xD Picture Card, microSD Card, and internal storage) with no detailed battery life specification, typical of compacts from its era.

Connectivity-wise, the E-PM2 supports Eye-Fi wireless cards for image transfer, plus USB 2.0 and HDMI output. The Stylus 9000 omits wireless capabilities and HDMI.

From my experience, having wireless file transfer and HDMI out gives the E-PM2 an edge for modern workflows, especially for professionals or enthusiasts.

Tailored for Every Genre: Performance Ratings Across Photography Types

Different photography disciplines demand different strengths. Here’s how these two stack up in key categories based on my testing and rating.

• Portraits: The E-PM2’s larger sensor delivers richer skin tones and better bokeh control with fast lenses. Stylus 9000 falls short in shallow depth control.
• Landscapes: E-PM2’s superior resolution and dynamic range win easily. Stylus struggles with detail and highlight retention.
• Wildlife: E-PM2’s autofocus, frame rate, and telephoto lens compatibility give it a clear advantage.
• Sports: E-PM2 provides higher burst capabilities and tracking; Stylus unsuitable.
• Street Photography: Stylus 9000’s pocketable size offers stealth, but E-PM2’s versatility shines when prepared.
• Macro: E-PM2’s lens choices and autofocus precision excel; Stylus supports close focusing but limited.
• Night/Astro: E-PM2’s high ISO and stabilization outperform Stylus.
• Video: E-PM2 supports HD with stabilization; Stylus limited to VGA.
• Travel: Stylus 9000's compactness appeals; E-PM2 balances versatility and size.
• Professional Use: E-PM2’s RAW support, file management, and lens system provide a professional workflow.

The overall scores, reinforced by this chart, clearly place the E-PM2 as the more capable system for serious photography.

Real-World Image Quality: Sample Shots That Speak Volumes

Enough talk: let’s look at what these cameras produce.

Olympus E PM2 front Olympus E PM2 screen back Olympus 9000 front Olympus 9000 screen back

From natural-looking portraits with smooth skin rendition to expansive landscapes marked by rich color fidelity and sharpness, the E-PM2’s images display a dynamism missing in the Stylus 9000’s outputs. The compact’s shots tend to show less detail, more noise in shadows, and flatter color, especially in challenging light.

Even razor-sharp 280 mm telephoto shots from the Stylus show softness compared to interchangeable lens telephotos on the E-PM2.

Durability, Weather Sealing, and Professional Reliability

Neither camera offers weather sealing or rugged build to withstand crashes, dust, or moisture. However, the E-PM2’s metal body feels more robust than Stylus 9000’s plastic shell.

For professional or extensive outdoor work, I recommend adding weather-sealed lenses or protective gear with the E-PM2.

Price-to-Performance: Is More Always Better?

With a brand-new price tag around $448 for the E-PM2 and $300 for the Stylus 9000, price considerations matter.

For clear value, the E-PM2 offers far more functionality, image quality, and growth potential, justifying its higher price. The Stylus 9000 is targeted at casual users not seeking complex controls or interchangeable lenses.

Which One Should You Buy? My Recommendations

After extensive testing across numerous shooting contexts, here’s how I’d advise you choose:

• Go with the Olympus E-PM2 if:

  • You want creative control with interchangeable lenses.
  • Your photography includes portraits, landscapes, sports, wildlife, or night shooting.
  • You need superior image quality and autofocus capabilities.
  • Video recording in HD is important.
  • You value manual control and expandable system features.
  • Battery life, modern connectivity, and workflow integration matter.

• Consider the Olympus Stylus 9000 if:

  • You mainly want a simple, compact grab-and-go camera.
  • Budget constraints prevent investing in lenses or a larger system.
  • You prioritize portability and straightforward, automatic operation.
  • Your shooting is casual and mostly outdoors in good light.
  • You don’t require RAW format or HD video.

Wrapping Up with Overall Performance Ratings

To conclude, here’s a summary graphic reflecting scores I assigned based on my comprehensive evaluation.

The Olympus E-PM2 registers high across technical, handling, and image quality metrics, ranking it as a solid choice for enthusiasts stepping into interchangeable lens photography. The Stylus 9000, while respectable as a compact, is clearly more limited in function and performance.

Final Thoughts

Choosing your next camera is a personal and practical decision. The Olympus E-PM2 is a gateway to serious photography, offering control, versatility, and image quality that will satisfy enthusiasts and pros alike. The Stylus 9000 is a lightweight alternative for snapshots and convenience, but its compromises mean it won’t satisfy those who want to advance or specialize.

Whichever path you take, I recommend handling them yourself if possible and considering which photographic styles excite you most. The E-PM2 will reward you with creative freedom and image excellence for years, whereas the Stylus 9000 serves well as a simple companion for everyday moments.

If you found this comparison helpful, keep an eye out for my future hands-on reviews to guide your photographic gear choices with real-world insight and expert analysis. Happy shooting!