Canon M3 vs Olympus E-PL9
The Canon EOS M3 and the Olympus PEN E-PL9 are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in February 2015 and February 2018. Both the M3 and the E-PL9 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are based on an APS-C (M3) and a Four Thirds (E-PL9) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 24 megapixels, whereas the Olympus provides 15.9 MP.
Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.
Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS M3 and the Olympus PEN E-PL9? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.
Body comparison
The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Canon M3 and the Olympus E-PL9. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.
The M3 can be obtained in two different colors (black, white), while the E-PL9 is available in four color-versions (black, brown, blue, white).
If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Olympus E-PL9 is notably larger (5 percent) than the Canon M3. Moreover, the E-PL9 is slightly heavier (4 percent) than the M3. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the M3 nor the E-PL9 are weather-sealed.
The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.
Concerning battery life, the M3 gets 250 shots out of its Canon LP-E17 battery, while the E-PL9 can take 350 images on a single charge of its Olympus BLS-50 power pack.
The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.
Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price |
Street Price |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Canon M3 | 111 mm | 68 mm | 44 mm | 366 g | 250 | n | Feb 2015 | EUR 749 | ebay.com | |
2. | Olympus E-PL9 | 117 mm | 68 mm | 39 mm | 380 g | 350 | n | Feb 2018 | EUR 599 | ebay.com | |
3. | Canon 750D | 132 mm | 101 mm | 78 mm | 555 g | 440 | n | Feb 2015 | EUR 699 | ebay.com | |
4. | Canon G5 X | 112 mm | 76 mm | 44 mm | 353 g | 210 | n | Oct 2015 | EUR 789 | ebay.com | |
5. | Canon G7 X | 103 mm | 60 mm | 40 mm | 304 g | 210 | n | Sep 2014 | EUR 649 | ebay.com | |
6. | Canon G7 X Mark II | 106 mm | 61 mm | 42 mm | 319 g | 265 | n | Feb 2016 | EUR 685 | ebay.com | |
7. | Canon M | 109 mm | 66 mm | 32 mm | 298 g | 230 | n | Jul 2012 | EUR 599 | ebay.com | |
8. | Canon M5 | 116 mm | 89 mm | 61 mm | 427 g | 295 | n | Sep 2016 | EUR 1 129 | ebay.com | |
9. | Canon M6 | 112 mm | 68 mm | 45 mm | 390 g | 295 | n | Feb 2017 | EUR 799 | ebay.com | |
10. | Canon M10 | 108 mm | 67 mm | 35 mm | 301 g | 255 | n | Oct 2015 | EUR 499 | ebay.com | |
11. | Canon M100 | 108 mm | 67 mm | 35 mm | 302 g | 295 | n | Aug 2017 | EUR 479 | ebay.com | |
12. | Olympus E-M10 III | 122 mm | 84 mm | 50 mm | 410 g | 330 | n | Aug 2017 | EUR 649 | ebay.com | |
13. | Olympus E-PL6 | 111 mm | 64 mm | 38 mm | 325 g | 360 | n | May 2013 | EUR 599 | ebay.com | |
14. | Olympus E-PL7 | 115 mm | 67 mm | 38 mm | 357 g | 350 | n | Aug 2014 | EUR 599 | ebay.com | |
15. | Olympus E-PL8 | 115 mm | 67 mm | 38 mm | 357 g | 350 | n | Sep 2016 | EUR 549 | ebay.com | |
16. | Olympus E-PL10 | 117 mm | 68 mm | 39 mm | 380 g | 350 | n | Oct 2019 | EUR 599 | ebay.com | |
17. | Sony A6000 | 120 mm | 67 mm | 45 mm | 344 g | 360 | n | Feb 2014 | EUR 549 | ebay.com | |
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. | |||||||||||
Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The E-PL9 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 12 percent) than the M3, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.
Sensor comparison
The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.
Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon M3 features an APS-C sensor and the Olympus E-PL9 a Four Thirds sensor. The sensor area in the E-PL9 is 32 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.6 and 2.0. The sensor in the M3 has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the E-PL9 offers a 4:3 aspect.
With 24MP, the M3 offers a higher resolution than the E-PL9 (15.9MP), but the M3 has marginally smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of 3.72μm versus 3.76μm for the E-PL9). Moreover, the E-PL9 is a much more recent model (by 3 years) than the M3, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels.
The resolution advantage of the Canon M3 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the M3 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.8 x 33.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Olympus E-PL9 are 23 x 17.3 inches or 58.5 x 43.9 cm for good quality, 18.4 x 13.8 inches or 46.8 x 35.1 cm for very good quality, and 15.4 x 11.5 inches or 39 x 29.3 cm for excellent quality prints.
The M3 has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.
The Canon EOS M3 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12800, which can be extended to ISO 100-25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Olympus PEN E-PL9 are ISO 200 to ISO 6400, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-25600.
Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.
For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.
Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Canon M3 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/30p | 22.8 | 11.8 | 1169 | 72 | |
2. | Olympus E-PL9 | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 4K/30p | 23.1 | 12.8 | 1162 | 74 | |
3. | Canon 750D | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/30p | 22.7 | 12.0 | 919 | 71 | |
4. | Canon G5 X | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 1080/60p | 21.4 | 12.3 | 471 | 62 | |
5. | Canon G7 X | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 1080/60p | 23.0 | 12.7 | 556 | 71 | |
6. | Canon G7 X Mark II | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 1080/60p | 21.8 | 11.9 | 260 | 62 | |
7. | Canon M | APS-C | 17.9 | 5184 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 22.1 | 11.2 | 827 | 65 | |
8. | Canon M5 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 23.4 | 12.4 | 1262 | 77 | |
9. | Canon M6 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 23.4 | 12.6 | 1317 | 78 | |
10. | Canon M10 | APS-C | 17.9 | 5184 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 22.2 | 11.4 | 753 | 65 | |
11. | Canon M100 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 23.5 | 12.9 | 1272 | 78 | |
12. | Olympus E-M10 III | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 4K/30p | 23.1 | 12.8 | 1120 | 74 | |
13. | Olympus E-PL6 | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 22.5 | 12.0 | 717 | 68 | |
14. | Olympus E-PL7 | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 22.7 | 12.4 | 873 | 72 | |
15. | Olympus E-PL8 | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 23.0 | 12.6 | 1030 | 73 | |
16. | Olympus E-PL10 | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 4K/30p | 23.3 | 13.1 | 1324 | 76 | |
17. | Sony A6000 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 24.1 | 13.1 | 1347 | 82 | |
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age. |
Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the E-PL9 provides a better video resolution than the M3. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Canon is limited to 1080/30p.
Feature comparison
Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The M3 and the E-PL9 are similar in the sense that neither of the two has a viewfinder. The images are, thus, framed using live view on the rear LCD. That said, the M3 can be equipped with an optional viewfinder – the EVF-DC1. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Canon M3 and Olympus E-PL9 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.
Camera Model |
Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) |
Control Panel (yes/no) |
LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots) |
LCD Attach- ment |
Touch Screen (yes/no) |
Max Shutter Speed * |
Max Shutter Flaps * |
Built-in Flash (yes/no) |
Built-in Image Stab |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Canon M3 | optional | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 4.2/s | Y | n | |
2. | Olympus E-PL9 | none | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 8.6/s | Y | Y | |
3. | Canon 750D | optical | n | 3.0 / 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 5.0/s | Y | n | |
4. | Canon G5 X | 2360 | n | 3.0 / 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/2000s | 5.9/s | Y | Y | |
5. | Canon G7 X | none | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/2000s | 6.5/s | Y | Y | |
6. | Canon G7 X Mark II | none | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/2000s | 8.0/s | Y | Y | |
7. | Canon M | none | n | 3.0 / 1040 | fixed | Y | 1/4000s | 4.3/s | n | n | |
8. | Canon M5 | 2360 | n | 3.2 / 1620 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 9.0/s | Y | n | |
9. | Canon M6 | optional | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 9.0/s | Y | n | |
10. | Canon M10 | none | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 4.6/s | Y | n | |
11. | Canon M100 | none | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 6.1/s | Y | n | |
12. | Olympus E-M10 III | 2360 | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 8.6/s | Y | Y | |
13. | Olympus E-PL6 | optional | n | 3.0 / 460 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 8.0/s | n | Y | |
14. | Olympus E-PL7 | optional | n | 3.0 / 1037 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 8.0/s | n | Y | |
15. | Olympus E-PL8 | optional | n | 3.0 / 1037 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 8.0/s | n | Y | |
16. | Olympus E-PL10 | none | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 8.6/s | Y | Y | |
17. | Sony A6000 | 1440 | n | 3.0 / 922 | tilting | n | 1/4000s | 11.0/s | Y | n | |
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one. |
One feature that differentiates the E-PL9 and the M3 is in-body image stabilization (IBIS). The E-PL9 reduces the risk of handshake-induced blur with all attached lenses, while the M3 offers no blur reduction with lenses that themselves do not provide optical image stabilization.
Both cameras have an articulated rear screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This feature will be particularly appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies.The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the E-PL9 is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).
The Olympus E-PL9 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.
Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the M3 and the E-PL9 write their files to SDXC cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.
Connectivity comparison
For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS M3 and Olympus PEN E-PL9 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.
Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Mic / Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support |
NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Canon M3 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
2. | Olympus E-PL9 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
3. | Canon 750D | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
4. | Canon G5 X | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
5. | Canon G7 X | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
6. | Canon G7 X Mark II | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
7. | Canon M | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
8. | Canon M5 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
9. | Canon M6 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
10. | Canon M10 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
11. | Canon M100 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
12. | Olympus E-M10 III | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
13. | Olympus E-PL6 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
14. | Olympus E-PL7 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
15. | Olympus E-PL8 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
16. | Olympus E-PL10 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
17. | Sony A6000 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - |
It is notable that the M3 has a microphone port, which is missing on the E-PL9. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.
Both the M3 and the E-PL9 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The M3 was replaced by the Canon M6, while the E-PL9 was followed by the Olympus E-PL10. Further information on the features and operation of the M3 and E-PL9 can be found, respectively, in the Canon M3 Manual (free pdf) or the online Olympus E-PL9 Manual.
Review summary
So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Canon M3 better than the Olympus E-PL9 or vice versa? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.
Advantages of the Canon EOS M3:
- More detail: Offers more megapixels (24 vs 15.9MP) with a 25% higher linear resolution.
- Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
- Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
- More framing options: Can be equipped with a hotshoe-mounted accessory-viewfinder.
- Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
- More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in February 2015).
Reasons to prefer the Olympus PEN E-PL9:
- Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/30p).
- Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (8.6 vs 4.2 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
- Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
- Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
- Longer lasting: Gets more shots (350 versus 250) out of a single battery charge.
- Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
- Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
- More affordable: Was released into a lower priced segment (12 percent cheaper at launch).
- More modern: Reflects 3 years of technical progress since the M3 launch.
If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the E-PL9 emerges as the winner of the match-up (9 : 6 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.
How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon M3 and the Olympus E-PL9 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.
In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the M3 or the E-PL9 perform in practice. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.
Expert reviews
This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.
Camera Model |
AP score |
CL score |
DCW score |
DPR score |
EPZ score |
PB score |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price |
Street Price |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Canon M3 | 4/5 | o | .. | 75/100 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Feb 2015 | EUR 749 | ebay.com | |
2. | Olympus E-PL9 | .. | + | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Feb 2018 | EUR 599 | ebay.com | |
3. | Canon 750D | 5/5 | .. | .. | 75/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2015 | EUR 699 | ebay.com | |
4. | Canon G5 X | 5/5 | + + | .. | 78/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Oct 2015 | EUR 789 | ebay.com | |
5. | Canon G7 X | 4/5 | + + | .. | 77/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2014 | EUR 649 | ebay.com | |
6. | Canon G7 X Mark II | 4.5/5 | + + | .. | 81/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2016 | EUR 685 | ebay.com | |
7. | Canon M | 3/5 | + | .. | .. | 4/5 | 4/5 | Jul 2012 | EUR 599 | ebay.com | |
8. | Canon M5 | 4/5 | + | 4/5 | 82/100 | 4/5 | 4/5 | Sep 2016 | EUR 1 129 | ebay.com | |
9. | Canon M6 | .. | .. | .. | 80/100 | 4/5 | 4/5 | Feb 2017 | EUR 799 | ebay.com | |
10. | Canon M10 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | 4/5 | Oct 2015 | EUR 499 | ebay.com | |
11. | Canon M100 | 3/5 | + | .. | .. | 4/5 | 3.5/5 | Aug 2017 | EUR 479 | ebay.com | |
12. | Olympus E-M10 III | .. | + | 5/5 | 80/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Aug 2017 | EUR 649 | ebay.com | |
13. | Olympus E-PL6 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | May 2013 | EUR 599 | ebay.com | |
14. | Olympus E-PL7 | 4/5 | + | .. | .. | 5/5 | 4/5 | Aug 2014 | EUR 599 | ebay.com | |
15. | Olympus E-PL8 | .. | .. | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Sep 2016 | EUR 549 | ebay.com | |
16. | Olympus E-PL10 | .. | .. | 4/5 | 77/100 | .. | 4/5 | Oct 2019 | EUR 599 | ebay.com | |
17. | Sony A6000 | 5/5 | + | 4.5/5 | 80/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Feb 2014 | EUR 549 | ebay.com | |
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. |
The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.
Other camera comparisons
Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.
- Canon 1Ds vs Olympus E-PL9
- Canon 4000D vs Canon M3
- Canon M3 vs Canon SX410
- Canon M3 vs Nikon D500
- Canon M3 vs Sony A7R II
- Canon M3 vs Sony NEX-6
- Canon M3 vs Sony RX10
- Leica M Typ 262 vs Olympus E-PL9
- Nikon Coolpix A vs Olympus E-PL9
- Nikon D300S vs Olympus E-PL9
- Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A6000
- Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony RX0 II
Specifications: Canon M3 vs Olympus E-PL9
Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.
Camera Model | Canon M3 | Olympus E-PL9 |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Mirrorless system camera | Mirrorless system camera |
Camera Lens | Canon EF-M mount lenses | Micro Four Thirds lenses |
Launch Date | February 2015 | February 2018 |
Launch Price | USD 679 | USD 599 |
Sensor Specs | Canon M3 | Olympus E-PL9 |
Sensor Technology | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor Format | APS-C Sensor | Four Thirds Sensor |
Sensor Size | 22.3 x 14.9 mm | 17.3 x 13.0 mm |
Sensor Area | 332.27 mm2 | 224.9 mm2 |
Sensor Diagonal | 26.8 mm | 21.6 mm |
Crop Factor | 1.6x | 2.0x |
Sensor Resolution | 24 Megapixels | 15.9 Megapixels |
Image Resolution | 6000 x 4000 pixels | 4608 x 3456 pixels |
Pixel Pitch | 3.72 μm | 3.76 μm |
Pixel Density | 7.22 MP/cm2 | 7.08 MP/cm2 |
Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | Anti-Alias filter |
Movie Capability | 1080/30p Video | 4K/30p Video |
ISO Setting | 100 - 12,800 ISO | 200 - 6,400 ISO |
ISO Boost | 100 - 25,600 ISO | 100 - 25,600 ISO |
Image Processor | DIGIC 6 | TruePic VIII |
DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 72 | .. |
DXO Color Depth (bits) | 22.8 | .. |
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 11.8 | .. |
DXO Low Light (ISO) | 1169 | .. |
Screen Specs | Canon M3 | Olympus E-PL9 |
Viewfinder Type | Viewfinder optional | no viewfinder |
LCD Framing | Live View | Live View |
Rear LCD Size | 3.0inch | 3.0inch |
LCD Resolution | 1040k dots | 1040k dots |
LCD Attachment | Tilting screen | Tilting screen |
Touch Input | Touchscreen | Touchscreen |
Shooting Specs | Canon M3 | Olympus E-PL9 |
Focus System | On-Sensor Phase-detect | Contrast-detect AF |
Manual Focusing Aid | Focus Peaking | Focus Peaking |
Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) | 1/4000s | 1/4000s |
Continuous Shooting | 4.2 shutter flaps/s | 8.6 shutter flaps/s |
Electronic Shutter | no E-Shutter | up to 1/16000s |
Time-Lapse Photography | no Intervalometer | Intervalometer built-in |
Image Stabilization | Lens stabilization only | In-body stabilization |
Fill Flash | Built-in Flash | Built-in Flash |
Storage Medium | SDXC cards | SDXC cards |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Single card slot | Single card slot |
UHS card support | UHS-I | UHS-I |
Connectivity Specs | Canon M3 | Olympus E-PL9 |
External Flash | Hotshoe | Hotshoe |
USB Connector | USB 2.0 | USB 2.0 |
HDMI Port | mini HDMI | micro HDMI |
Microphone Port | External MIC port | no MIC socket |
Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | Wifi built-in |
Near-Field Communication | NFC built-in | no NFC |
Bluetooth Support | no Bluetooth | Bluetooth built-in |
Body Specs | Canon M3 | Olympus E-PL9 |
Battery Type | Canon LP-E17 | Olympus BLS-50 |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 250 shots per charge | 350 shots per charge |
Body Dimensions |
111 x 68 x 44 mm (4.4 x 2.7 x 1.7 in) |
117 x 68 x 39 mm (4.6 x 2.7 x 1.5 in) |
Camera Weight | 366 g (12.9 oz) | 380 g (13.4 oz) |
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