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Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A7 II

The Olympus PEN E-PL9 and the Sony Alpha A7 II are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in February 2018 and November 2014. Both the E-PL9 and the A7 II are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are based on a Four Thirds (E-PL9) and a full frame (A7 II) sensor. The Olympus has a resolution of 15.9 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 24 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Olympus E-PL9
versus
Sony A7 II
Olympus E-PL9   Sony A7 II
Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
Micro Four Thirds lenses Sony E mount lenses
15.9 MP – Four Thirds sensor 24 MP – Full Frame sensor
4K/30p Video 1080/60p Video
ISO 200-6,400 (100 - 25,600) ISO 100-25,600 (50 - 51,200)
No viewfinder, LCD framing Electronic viewfinder (2400k dots)
3.0" LCD – 1040k dots 3.0" LCD – 1230k dots
Tilting touchscreen Tilting screen (no touchscreen)
8.6 shutter flaps per second 5 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilizationIn-body stabilization
not weather sealedWeathersealed body
350 shots per battery charge350 shots per battery charge
117 x 68 x 39 mm, 380 g 127 x 96 x 60 mm, 599 g
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Check E-PL9 offers at
ebay.com
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Check A7 II offers at
ebay.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus PEN E-PL9 and the Sony Alpha A7 II? 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.

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Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Olympus E-PL9 and the Sony A7 II are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The E-PL9 can be obtained in four different colors (black, brown, blue, white), while the A7 II is only available in black.

Size Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A7 II
Compare E-PL9 versus A7 II top
Comparison E-PL9 or A7 II rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony A7 II is considerably larger (53 percent) than the Olympus E-PL9. Moreover, the A7 II is substantially heavier (58 percent) than the E-PL9. It is noteworthy in this context that the A7 II is splash and dust-proof, while the E-PL9 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

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. A larger imaging sensor will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, although exceptions exist. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog (E-PL9) and the Sony FE Lens Catalog (A7 II). Mirrorless cameras, such as the two under consideration, have the additional advantage of having a short flange to focal plane distance, which makes it possible to mount many lenses from other systems onto the camera via adapters.

The power pack in the A7 II can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

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Body Specifications
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Olympus E-PL9 117 mm 68 mm 39 mm 380 g 350 i Feb 2018 US$ 599ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A7 II 127 mm 96 mm 60 mm 599 g 350 i Nov 2014 US$ 1 999ebay.com
3.
 
Olympus E-M10 119 mm 82 mm 46 mm 396 g 320 i Jan 2014 US$ 699ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-M10 II 120 mm 83 mm 47 mm 390 g 320 i Aug 2015 US$ 649ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-M10 III 122 mm 84 mm 50 mm 410 g 330 i Aug 2017 US$ 649ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-P5 122 mm 69 mm 37 mm 420 g 330 i May 2013 US$ 999ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-PL5 111 mm 64 mm 38 mm 325 g 360 i Sep 2012 US$ 599ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-PL6 111 mm 64 mm 38 mm 325 g 360 i May 2013 US$ 599ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus E-PL7 115 mm 67 mm 38 mm 357 g 350 i Aug 2014 US$ 599ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus E-PL8 115 mm 67 mm 38 mm 357 g 350 i Sep 2016 US$ 549ebay.com
11.
 
Olympus E-PL10 117 mm 68 mm 39 mm 380 g 350 i Oct 2019 US$ 599ebay.com
12.
 
Olympus E-PM2 110 mm 64 mm 34 mm 269 g 360 i Sep 2012 US$ 499ebay.com
13.
 
Sony A7 127 mm 94 mm 48 mm 474 g 340 i Oct 2013 US$ 1 699ebay.com
14.
 
Sony A7 III 127 mm 96 mm 74 mm 650 g 610 i Feb 2018 US$ 1 999 amazon.com
15.
 
Sony A7R II 127 mm 96 mm 60 mm 625 g 290 i Jun 2015 US$ 3 199ebay.com
16.
 
Sony A7S II 127 mm 96 mm 60 mm 627 g 370 i Sep 2015 US$ 2 999ebay.com
17.
 
Sony A9 127 mm 96 mm 63 mm 673 g 650 i Apr 2017 US$ 4 499ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
  empty Camera
Model

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. 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 markedly lower price (by 70 percent) than the A7 II, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. 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. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Olympus E-PL9 features a Four Thirds sensor and the Sony A7 II a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the A7 II is 280 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 2.0 and 1.0. The sensor in the E-PL9 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the A7 II offers a 3:2 aspect.

Olympus E-PL9 and Sony A7 II sensor measures

With 24MP, the A7 II offers a higher resolution than the E-PL9 (15.9MP), but the A7 II nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.97μm versus 3.76μm for the E-PL9) due to its larger sensor. However, the E-PL9 is a much more recent model (by 3 years and 2 months) than the A7 II, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units.

The resolution advantage of the Sony A7 II implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the A7 II 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 A7 II has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Olympus PEN E-PL9 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 6400, which can be extended to ISO 100-25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Alpha A7 II are ISO 100 to ISO 25600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-51200.

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.

E-PL9 versus A7 II MP

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Olympus E-PL9 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34564K/30p23.112.8116274
2.
 
Sony A7 II Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.913.6244990
3.
 
Olympus E-M10 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.812.388472
4.
 
Olympus E-M10 II Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60p23.112.584273
5.
 
Olympus E-M10 III Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34564K/30p23.112.8112074
6.
 
Olympus E-P5 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.812.489572
7.
 
Olympus E-PL5 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.812.388972
8.
 
Olympus E-PL6 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.512.071768
9.
 
Olympus E-PL7 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.712.487372
10.
 
Olympus E-PL8 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p23.012.6103073
11.
 
Olympus E-PL10 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34564K/30p23.313.1132476
12.
 
Olympus E-PM2 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.712.293272
13.
 
Sony A7 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.814.2224890
14.
 
Sony A7 III Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p25.014.7373096
15.
 
Sony A7R II Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p26.013.9343498
16.
 
Sony A7S II Full Frame 12.0 4240 28324K/30p23.613.3299385
17.
 
Sony A9 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p24.913.3351792
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
  empty Camera
Model

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the E-PL9 provides a higher video resolution than the A7 II. It can shoot video footage at 4K/30p, while the Sony is limited to 1080/60p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the A7 II has an electronic viewfinder (2400k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the E-PL9 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Olympus E-PL9, the Sony A7 II, and comparable cameras.

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Core Features
  empty 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.
 
Olympus E-PL9i i3.0 / 1040 tilting i 1/4000s 8.6/s i i
2.
 
Sony A7 II2400 i3.0 / 1230 tilting i 1/8000s 5.0/s i i
3.
 
Olympus E-M101440 i3.0 / 1037 tilting i 1/4000s 8.0/s i i
4.
 
Olympus E-M10 II2360 i3.0 / 1040 tilting i 1/4000s 8.0/s i i
5.
 
Olympus E-M10 III2360 i3.0 / 1040 tilting i 1/4000s 8.6/s i i
6.
 
Olympus E-P5optional i3.0 / 1037 tilting i 1/8000s 9.0/s i i
7.
 
Olympus E-PL5optional i3.0 / 460 tilting i 1/4000s 8.0/s i i
8.
 
Olympus E-PL6optional i3.0 / 460 tilting i 1/4000s 8.0/s i i
9.
 
Olympus E-PL7optional i3.0 / 1037 tilting i 1/4000s 8.0/s i i
10.
 
Olympus E-PL8optional i3.0 / 1037 tilting i 1/4000s 8.0/s i i
11.
 
Olympus E-PL10i i3.0 / 1040 tilting i 1/4000s 8.6/s i i
12.
 
Olympus E-PM2optional i3.0 / 460 fixed i 1/4000s 8.0/s i i
13.
 
Sony A72400 i3.0 / 1230 tilting i 1/8000s 5.0/s i i
14.
 
Sony A7 III2359 i3.0 / 922 tilting i 1/8000s 10.0/s i i
15.
 
Sony A7R II2400 i3.0 / 1229 tilting i 1/8000s 5.0/s i i
16.
 
Sony A7S II2400 i3.0 / 1229 tilting i 1/8000s 5.0/s i i
17.
 
Sony A93686 i3.0 / 1440 tilting i 1/8000s 20.0/s i i
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
  empty 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
  empty Camera
Model

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The E-PL9 has one, while the A7 II does not. While the built-in flash of the E-PL9 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The E-PL9 has an articulated LCD that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in snapping selfies. In contrast, the A7 II does not have a selfie-screen.

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.

The E-PL9 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the A7 II uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo 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 Olympus PEN E-PL9 and Sony Alpha A7 II and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Olympus E-PL9istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
2.
 
Sony A7 IIistereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
3.
 
Olympus E-M10istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
4.
 
Olympus E-M10 IIistereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
5.
 
Olympus E-M10 IIIistereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
6.
 
Olympus E-P5istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
7.
 
Olympus E-PL5istereo / monoiimini2.0iii
8.
 
Olympus E-PL6istereo / monoiimini2.0iii
9.
 
Olympus E-PL7istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
10.
 
Olympus E-PL8istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
11.
 
Olympus E-PL10istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
12.
 
Olympus E-PM2istereo / monoiimini2.0iii
13.
 
Sony A7istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
14.
 
Sony A7 IIIistereo / monoiimicro3.1iii
15.
 
Sony A7R IIistereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
16.
 
Sony A7S IIistereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
17.
 
Sony A9istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
  empty Camera
Model

It is notable that the A7 II has a headphone jack, which makes it possible to attach external headphones and monitor the quality of sound during the recording process. The E-PL9 lacks such a headphone port.

Both the E-PL9 and the A7 II have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The A7 II was replaced by the Sony A7 III, while the E-PL9 was followed by the Olympus E-PL10. Further information on the features and operation of the E-PL9 and A7 II can be found, respectively, in the Olympus E-PL9 Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony A7 II Manual.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Which of the two cameras – the Olympus E-PL9 or the Sony A7 II – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

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Reasons to prefer the Olympus PEN E-PL9:

  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/60p).
  • Fewer buttons to press: Is equipped with a touch-sensitive rear screen to facilitate handling.
  • More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (8.6 vs 5 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.
  • More compact: Is smaller (117x68mm vs 127x96mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 219g or 37 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
  • Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (70 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More modern: Reflects 3 years and 2 months of technical progress since the A7 II launch.

ilogo

Arguments in favor of the Sony Alpha A7 II:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (24 vs 15.9MP), which boosts linear resolution by 25%.
  • Better image quality: Features bigger pixels on a larger sensor for higher quality imaging.
  • Richer colors: The pixel size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
  • More dynamic range: Larger pixels capture a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Larger pixels means good image quality even under poor lighting.
  • 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.
  • Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
  • Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1230k vs 1040k dots).
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
  • Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
  • Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
  • Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in November 2014).

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the A7 II emerges as the winner of the match-up (15 : 12 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

E-PL9 12:15 A7 II

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus E-PL9 and the Sony A7 II 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 says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the E-PL9 and the A7 II in practical situations. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular 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.

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Expert Camera Reviews
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Olympus E-PL9..+....4.5/54/5 Feb 2018 US$ 599ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A7 II5/5+4/582/1004.5/55/5 Nov 2014 US$ 1 999ebay.com
3.
 
Olympus E-M104/5....80/1005/55/5 Jan 2014 US$ 699ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-M10 II4.5/5+ +..80/1005/55/5 Aug 2015 US$ 649ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-M10 III..+5/580/1004.5/54.5/5 Aug 2017 US$ 649ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-P55/5+ +..78/1004.5/55/5 May 2013 US$ 999ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-PL53/5+ +....4.5/54.5/5 Sep 2012 US$ 599ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-PL6............ May 2013 US$ 599ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus E-PL74/5+....5/54/5 Aug 2014 US$ 599ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus E-PL8........4.5/54/5 Sep 2016 US$ 549ebay.com
11.
 
Olympus E-PL10....4/577/100..4/5 Oct 2019 US$ 599ebay.com
12.
 
Olympus E-PM23/5....77/1005/54.5/5 Sep 2012 US$ 499ebay.com
13.
 
Sony A75/5+ +..80/1005/55/5 Oct 2013 US$ 1 699ebay.com
14.
 
Sony A7 III..+ +4.5/589/1005/55/5 Feb 2018 US$ 1 999 amazon.com
15.
 
Sony A7R II5/5+ +5/590/1005/55/5 Jun 2015 US$ 3 199ebay.com
16.
 
Sony A7S II5/5+....4.5/55/5 Sep 2015 US$ 2 999ebay.com
17.
 
Sony A95/5+ +4.8/589/1005/55/5 Apr 2017 US$ 4 499ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
  empty  Camera 
 Model 

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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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 make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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  • Canon G1 X
  • Canon G1 X Mark II
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  • Canon G3 X
  • Canon G5 X
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  • Canon G7 X
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  • Canon M100
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  • Contax N Digital
  • Epson R-D1
  • Fujifilm GFX 50R
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  • Fujifilm GFX 100
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  • Fujifilm GFX 100RF
  • Fujifilm GFX 100S
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  • Fujifilm X-A1
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  • Fujifilm X-H1
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  • Fujifilm X-M1
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  • Fujifilm X-Pro1
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  • Fujifilm X-Pro3
  • Fujifilm X-S10
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  • Fujifilm X-T1
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  • Fujifilm X-T3
  • Fujifilm X-T4
  • Fujifilm X-T5
  • Fujifilm X-T10
  • Fujifilm X-T20
  • Fujifilm X-T30
  • Fujifilm X-T30 II
  • Fujifilm X-T50
  • Fujifilm X-T100
  • Fujifilm X-T200
  • Fujifilm X10
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  • Fujifilm X30
  • Fujifilm X70
  • Fujifilm X100
  • Fujifilm X100S
  • Fujifilm X100T
  • Fujifilm X100F
  • Fujifilm X100V
  • Fujifilm X100VI
  • Fujifilm XF10
  • Fujifilm XQ1
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  • Fujifilm XP120
  • Fujifilm XP130
  • Fujifilm XP140
  • Hasselblad X1D
  • Hasselblad X1D II
  • Hasselblad X2D 100C
  • Kodak AZ901
  • Kodak S-1
  • Leica C-LUX
  • Leica CL
  • Leica D-LUX Typ 109
  • Leica D-LUX 5
  • Leica D-LUX 6
  • Leica D-LUX 7
  • Leica D-LUX 8
  • Leica Digilux 3
  • Leica M Typ 240
  • Leica M-E Typ 240
  • Leica M Typ 262
  • Leica M8
  • Leica M9
  • Leica M10
  • Leica M10-P
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  • Leica M11
  • Leica Q Typ 116
  • Leica Q2
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  • Leica S1
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  • Leica S3
  • Leica S Typ 006
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  • Leica S Typ 007
  • Leica SL
  • Leica SL2
  • Leica SL2-S
  • Leica SL3
  • Leica SL3-S
  • Leica T
  • Leica TL
  • Leica TL2
  • Leica V-LUX 1
  • Leica V-LUX 2
  • Leica V-LUX 3
  • Leica V-LUX 4
  • Leica V-LUX Typ 114
  • Leica V-LUX 5
  • Leica X1
  • Leica X2
  • Leica X Vario
  • Leica X Typ 113
  • Leica X-U Typ 113
  • Leitz Ur-Leica
  • Nikon 1 J4
  • Nikon 1 J5
  • Nikon 1 V1
  • Nikon 1 V2
  • Nikon 1 V3
  • Nikon Coolpix A
  • Nikon A1000
  • Nikon B500
  • Nikon B600
  • Nikon B700
  • Nikon D1
  • Nikon D1H
  • Nikon D1X
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  • Nikon D3000
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  • Nikon D3200
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  • Nikon D5000
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  • Nikon D5300
  • Nikon D5500
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  • Nikon D7000
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  • Nikon D7500
  • Nikon Df
  • Nikon L840
  • Nikon P900
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  • Nikon P7800
  • Nikon W150
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  • Nikon Z5
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  • Nikon Z6
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  • Nikon Z7
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  • Nikon Z8
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  • Nikon Z30
  • Nikon Z50
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  • Nikon Zf
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  • Olympus E-1
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  • Olympus E-330
  • Olympus E-400
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  • Olympus E-450
  • Olympus E-500
  • Olympus E-510
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  • Olympus E-600
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  • Olympus E-M1
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  • Olympus E-M5 III
  • Olympus E-M10
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  • Olympus E-M10 III
  • Olympus E-M10 IV
  • Olympus E-P1
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  • Olympus E-P5
  • Olympus E-P7
  • Olympus E-PL1
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  • Olympus E-PL5
  • Olympus E-PL6
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  • Olympus E-PL8
  • Olympus E-PL9
  • Olympus E-PL10
  • Olympus E-PM1
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  • Olympus PEN-F
  • Olympus Stylus 1
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  • Olympus TG-4
  • Olympus TG-5
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  • Olympus XZ-1
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  • OM System OM-1
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  • OM System OM-3
  • OM System OM-5
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  • OM System TG-7
  • Panasonic FZ80
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  • Panasonic G1
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  • Panasonic GH1
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  • Panasonic GH5s
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  • Panasonic GM1
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  • Panasonic GX1
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  • Panasonic L1
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  • Panasonic LX5
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  • Panasonic S1
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  • Panasonic S1H
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  • Panasonic S5
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  • Panasonic S9
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  • Panasonic ZS70
  • Panasonic ZS80
  • Panasonic ZS100
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  • Pentax 645D
  • Pentax 645Z
  • Pentax K-1
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  • Pentax K-3
  • Pentax K-3 II
  • Pentax K-3 III
  • Pentax K-5
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  • Pentax K-30
  • Pentax K-50
  • Pentax K-70
  • Pentax K-500
  • Pentax KP
  • Pentax K-S1
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  • Pentax MX-1
  • Pentax Q
  • Pentax WG-8
  • Pentax WG-90
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  • Ricoh GR
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  • Ricoh GR IIIx
  • Ricoh WG-6
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  • Samsung NX1
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  • Sigma fp
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  • Sony A1
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  • Sony A7
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  • Sony A7 III
  • Sony A7 IV
  • Sony A7C
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  • Sony A7C R
  • Sony A7R
  • Sony A7R II
  • Sony A7R III
  • Sony A7R IIIA
  • Sony A7R IV
  • Sony A7R IVA
  • Sony A7R V
  • Sony A7S
  • Sony A7S II
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  • Sony A9
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  • Sony A9 III
  • Sony A58
  • Sony A68
  • Sony A77
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  • Sony A99
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  • Sony A850
  • Sony A900
  • Sony A3000
  • Sony A5000
  • Sony A5100
  • Sony A6000
  • Sony A6100
  • Sony A6300
  • Sony A6400
  • Sony A6500
  • Sony A6600
  • Sony A6700
  • Sony H200
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  • Sony H400
  • Sony HX80
  • Sony HX90V
  • Sony HX95
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  • Sony HX350
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  • Sony NEX-3
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  • Sony NEX-6
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  • Sony RX0
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  • Sony RX1
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  • Sony RX10
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  • Sony RX100
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  • Sony RX100 IV
  • Sony RX100 V
  • Sony RX100 VI
  • Sony RX100 VII
  • Sony WX800
  • Sony ZV-1
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  • Sony ZV-1F
  • Sony ZV-E1
  • Sony ZV-E10
  • Sony ZV-E10 II
  • YI M1
  • Zeiss ZX1
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Specifications: Olympus E-PL9 vs Sony A7 II

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 Specifications
Camera Model Olympus E-PL9 Sony A7 II
Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
Camera Lens Micro Four Thirds lenses Sony E mount lenses
Launch Date February 2018 November 2014
Launch Price USD 599 USD 1,999
Sensor Specs Olympus E-PL9 Sony A7 II
Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
Sensor Format Four Thirds Sensor Full Frame Sensor
Sensor Size 17.3 x 13.0 mm 35.8 x 23.9 mm
Sensor Area 224.9 mm2 855.62 mm2
Sensor Diagonal 21.6 mm 43 mm
Crop Factor 2.0x 1.0x
Sensor Resolution 15.9 Megapixels 24 Megapixels
Image Resolution 4608 x 3456 pixels 6000 x 4000 pixels
Pixel Pitch 3.76 μm 5.97 μm
Pixel Density 7.08 MP/cm2 2.80 MP/cm2
Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
Movie Capability 4K/30p Video 1080/60p Video
ISO Setting 200 - 6,400 ISO 100 - 25,600 ISO
ISO Boost 100 - 25,600 ISO 50 - 51,200 ISO
Image Processor TruePic VIII BIONZ X
DXO Sensor Quality (score) .. 90
DXO Color Depth (bits) .. 24.9
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) .. 13.6
DXO Low Light (ISO) .. 2449
Screen Specs Olympus E-PL9 Sony A7 II
Viewfinder Type no viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Field of View 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.71x
Viewfinder Resolution 2400k dots
LCD Framing Live View Live View
Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
LCD Resolution 1040k dots 1230k dots
LCD Attachment Tilting screen Tilting screen
Touch Input Touchscreen no Touchscreen
Shooting Specs Olympus E-PL9 Sony A7 II
Focus System Contrast-detect AF On-Sensor Phase-detect
Manual Focusing AidFocus PeakingFocus Peaking
Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous Shooting 8.6 shutter flaps/s 5 shutter flaps/s
Electronic Shutterup to 1/16000sno E-Shutter
Time-Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer built-inno Intervalometer
Image StabilizationIn-body stabilizationIn-body stabilization
Fill Flash Built-in Flash no On-Board Flash
Storage Medium SDXC cards MS or SDXC cards
Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
UHS card support UHS-I UHS-I
Connectivity Specs Olympus E-PL9 Sony A7 II
External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
HDMI Port micro HDMI micro HDMI
Microphone Port no MIC socket External MIC port
Headphone Socket no Headphone port Headphone port
Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
Near-Field Communication no NFC NFC built-in
Bluetooth Support Bluetooth built-in no Bluetooth
Body Specs Olympus E-PL9 Sony A7 II
Environmental Sealingnot weather sealedWeathersealed body
Battery Type Olympus BLS-50 Sony NP-FW50
Battery Life (CIPA)350 shots per charge350 shots per charge
In-Camera Charging no USB charging USB charging
Body Dimensions 117 x 68 x 39 mm
(4.6 x 2.7 x 1.5 in)
127 x 96 x 60 mm
(5.0 x 3.8 x 2.4 in)
Camera Weight 380 g (13.4 oz) 599 g (21.1 oz)
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