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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX9V

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
46
Overall
41

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX9V Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Released May 2013
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PM1
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
  • Introduced July 2011
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX9V Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX9V, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the HX9V (16MP) is relatively well matched but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and HX9V (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PM2 was released 23 months later than the HX9V which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX9V being a Compact camera.

Before going into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick summary of how the E-PM2 scores vs the HX9V in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Sony HX9V

 E-PM2 HX9V 
IntroducedMay 2013July 2011More recent by 23 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX9V over the Olympus E-PM2

 HX9V E-PM2 
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Sony HX9V

 E-PM2 HX9V 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX9V Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM2 has external measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 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).

Check the Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX9V in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PM2 compared to the HX9V.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX9V size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM2 and HX9V is 89 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX9V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX9V Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be hard to visualise the difference between sensor measurements merely by reading through technical specs. The graphic here should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM2 and HX9V.

As you can tell, each of the cameras provide the same resolution albeit not the same sensor measurements. The E-PM2 provides the bigger sensor which should make getting bokeh less difficult. The more modern E-PM2 is going to have a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX9V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX9V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX9V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography advice
Sony HX9V Portrait photography advice
71
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
39
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PM2
Street photography with Sony HX9V
79
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
includes focus via touch
great high ISO (25,600)
no articulating screen
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (245g)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography highlights
Sony HX9V Sports photography highlights
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
no phase detect autofocus
44
long zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography details
Sony HX9V Travel photography details
66
includes focus via touch
megapixel count decent (16MP)
lack of Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than average (245 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
long zoom (384mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography advice
Sony HX9V Landscape photography advice
74
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
lack of Timelapse function
49
you can focus manually
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX9V as a Vlogging camera
36
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone support
33
rather wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (245 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing mic socket
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony HX9V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Sony HX9V
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2013-05-21 2011-07-19
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - XtraFine LCD display with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 8.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 4.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (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 data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269g (0.59 lb) 245g (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 Overall score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 932 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 images -
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 release $448 $328