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Olympus PEN E-PL9 vs Olympus PEN E-PL8

Olympus PEN E-PL9

Camera summary

The Olympus PEN E-PL9, made by Olympus, is a powerful Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera. Announced on Feb. 8, 2018. This camera has a Max Boosted ISO of 25600. This kind of camera will offer a good performance under low light conditions, probably has a pleasant grain effect in your pictures.

See full specifications
Feature Score
Autofocus specs
4.5 out of 5 stars
Connectivity
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exposure mode
2.5 out of 5 stars
Photography features
5.0 out of 5 stars
Physical
0.3 out of 5 stars
Average Score
3.5 out of 5 stars

Predecessor

This camera builds on the success of its predecessor, the Olympus PEN E-PL8, with advanced features and improved performance.

Compare this camera to the Olympus PEN E-PL8

Sensor

This camera has a CMOS sensor with a 16 Megapixels resolution.

Focus points

This camera has 121 focus points. AF Face detection available, ideal for portraits and selfies. It offers AF tracking, which allows you to track moving objects

Max video resolutions

3840 x 2160

Expect recording in 3840 x 2160 with support for the following formats: MPEG-4, H.264.

Connectivity

Built-in wireless connectivity. Support for HDMI, so you can connect it to screens, monitors or any compatible device. Support for USB, transfer files and upgrade your camera's software directly from your computer.

Battery life

BLS-50

The battery of this camera can last up to 350 shots per charge with the included BLS-50 battery. Consider that this value can fluctuate and depends on the mAh of the battery (sometimes generic batteries have more mAh) and also on the usage, the amount of time you use the screen, the flash, etc.

Although this camera may have a decent battery life, its performance is not as great as the most powerful cameras. Always make sure to carry one extra battery, just in case.

Other features

This camera doesn't include a microphone port, which can be a major headache when recording video or interviews, consider it before buying it.

Olympus PEN E-PL8

Camera summary

The Olympus PEN E-PL8, made by Olympus, is a powerful Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera. Announced on Sept. 19, 2016.

See full specifications
Feature Score
Autofocus specs
4.5 out of 5 stars
Connectivity
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exposure mode
3.3 out of 5 stars
Photography features
4.3 out of 5 stars
Physical
0.3 out of 5 stars
Average Score
3.5 out of 5 stars

Predecessor

This camera builds on the success of its predecessor, the Olympus PEN E-PL7, with advanced features and improved performance.

Compare this camera to the Olympus PEN E-PL7

Successor

This camera has now been superseeded by the Olympus PEN E-PL9, which has more advanced features and characteristics, it would also be easier to get, especially new. Take that into account.

Aside from that, consider that you may probably need to update your camera soon and finding accesories could be more difficult compared to its successor. Of course you can expect a lower price for this camera as a compensation.

Compare this camera to its successor Olympus PEN E-PL9

Sensor

This camera has a CMOS sensor with a 16 Megapixels resolution.

Focus points

This camera has 81 focus points. AF Face detection available, ideal for portraits and selfies. It offers AF tracking, which allows you to track moving objects

Max video resolutions

1920 x 1080

Expect recording in 1920 x 1080 with support for the following formats: H.264, Motion JPEG.

Connectivity

Built-in wireless connectivity. Support for HDMI, so you can connect it to screens, monitors or any compatible device. Support for USB, transfer files and upgrade your camera's software directly from your computer.

Other features

This camera doesn't include a microphone port, which can be a major headache when recording video or interviews, consider it before buying it.

Autofocus specs

Olympus PEN E-PL9 Olympus PEN E-PL8
Af center
Yes
Yes
Af continuous
Yes
Yes
Af Contrast Detection
Yes
Yes
Af Face detection
Yes
Yes
Af live view
Yes
Yes
Af multi area
Yes
Yes
Af phase detection
No
No
Af selective
Yes
Yes
Af single
Yes
Yes
Af touch
Yes
Yes
Af tracking
Yes
Yes
Number of cross focus points - -
Number of focus points 121 81

Connectivity

Olympus PEN E-PL9 Olympus PEN E-PL8
HDMI
Yes
Yes
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
Wireless connectivity Built-In Built-In
DXO color depth 0.0 0.0
DXO dynamic range 0.0 0.0
DXO low light ISO 0.0 0.0
DXO overall score 0.0 0.0

Exposure mode

Olympus PEN E-PL9 Olympus PEN E-PL8
AF area
No
No
average
No
Yes
Center weighted
Yes
Yes
Multi segment
Yes
Yes
partial
No
No
spot
Yes
Yes

General

Olympus PEN E-PL9 Olympus PEN E-PL8
AKA - -
announced Feb. 8, 2018 Sept. 19, 2016
Body type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
brand Olympus Olympus
msrp $410.00 $299.00
model Olympus PEN E-PL9 Olympus PEN E-PL8
Predecessor model Olympus PEN E-PL8 Olympus PEN E-PL7
Successor model Olympus PEN E-PL9

Lense

Olympus PEN E-PL9 Olympus PEN E-PL8
Focal length multiplier 2x 2x
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Manual focus
Yes
Yes
Macro focus range - -
Number of lenses 128 128

Other features

Olympus PEN E-PL9 Olympus PEN E-PL8
GPS - -
Self-timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Storage slots 1 1
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Timelapse recording
No
No

Photography features

Olympus PEN E-PL9 Olympus PEN E-PL8
AE bracketing
Yes
Yes
Aperture priority
Yes
Yes
Built-in flash
Yes
No
Custom white balance
Yes
Yes
Exposure compensation
Yes
Yes
External flash
Yes
Yes
Flash modes Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off no built-in flash
Flash range 7.60 m (at ISO 200) no built-in flash
Image stabilization
Yes
Yes
Manual exposure mode
Yes
Yes
Max continuous shooting 8.6 fps 8.0 fps
Max mechanical shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Minimum shutter speed 60 60
Shutter priority
Yes
Yes
WB bracketing
Yes
Yes

Physical

Olympus PEN E-PL9 Olympus PEN E-PL8
Battery life 350 shots 350 shots
Battery model BLS-50 -
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Crush proof
No
No
Dust proof
No
No
Environmental sealing
No
No
Freeze proof
No
No
Physical dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm 115 x 67 x 38mm
Shock proof
No
No
Water proof
No
No
Weight 380 grs 357 grs

Screen

Olympus PEN E-PL9 Olympus PEN E-PL8
Live view
Yes
Yes
Screen resolution - -
Screen size - -
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Touch screen
Yes
Yes

Sensor

Olympus PEN E-PL9 Olympus PEN E-PL8
Max boosted ISO 25600 -
Max image resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW support
Yes
Yes
Sensor area - -
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13 mm 17.3 x 13 mm
Sensor resolution 16 16
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor type CMOS CMOS

Headphone port

Olympus PEN E-PL9 Olympus PEN E-PL8
Headphone port
No
No
Max video resolution 3840 x 2160 1920 x 1080
Microphone port
No
No
Video formats MPEG-4, H.264 H.264, Motion JPEG
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)

Viewfinder

Olympus PEN E-PL9 Olympus PEN E-PL8
viewfinder - Electronic (optional)
viewfinder coverage - -
viewfinder magnification - -
viewfinder resolution no electronic viewfinder no electronic viewfinder