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Sony A9 vs Olympus E-PL8

The Sony Alpha A9 and the Olympus PEN E-PL8 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in April 2017 and September 2016. Both the A9 and the E-PL8 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are based on a full frame (A9) and a Four Thirds (E-PL8) sensor. The Sony 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.

Headline Specifications
Sony A9
versus
Olympus E-PL8
Sony A9   Olympus E-PL8
Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
Sony E mount lenses Micro Four Thirds lenses
24 MP – Full Frame sensor 15.9 MP – Four Thirds sensor
4K/30p Video 1080/30p Video
ISO 100-51,200 (50 - 204,800) ISO 200-6,400 (100 - 25,600)
Electronic viewfinder (3686k dots) Viewfinder optional
3.0" LCD – 1440k dots 3.0" LCD – 1037k dots
Tilting touchscreen Tilting touchscreen
20 shutter flaps per second 8 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilizationIn-body stabilization
Weathersealed bodynot weather sealed
650 shots per battery charge350 shots per battery charge
127 x 96 x 63 mm, 673 g 115 x 67 x 38 mm, 357 g
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Check A9 offers at
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Check E-PL8 offers at
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Sony Alpha A9 and the Olympus PEN E-PL8? 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

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Sony A9 and the Olympus E-PL8 is provided 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 size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The E-PL8 can be obtained in three different colors (black, brown, white), while the A9 is only available in black.

Size Sony A9 vs Olympus E-PL8
Compare A9 versus E-PL8 top
Comparison A9 or E-PL8 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Olympus E-PL8 is considerably smaller (37 percent) than the Sony A9. Moreover, the E-PL8 is substantially lighter (47 percent) than the A9. It is worth mentioning in this context that the A9 is splash and dust resistant, while the E-PL8 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 Sony FE Lens Catalog (A9) and the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog (E-PL8). 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.

Concerning battery life, the A9 gets 650 shots out of its Sony NP-FZ100 battery, while the E-PL8 can take 350 images on a single charge of its Olympus BLS-50 power pack. The power pack in the A9 can be charged via the USB port, so that it is not always necessary to take the battery charger along when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. 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
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Sony A9 127 mm 96 mm 63 mm 673 g 650 Y Apr 2017 4,499ebay.com
2.
 
Olympus E-PL8 115 mm 67 mm 38 mm 357 g 350 n Sep 2016 549ebay.com
3.
 
Nikon Z6 134 mm 101 mm 67 mm 675 g 310 Y Aug 2018 1,999ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-PL10 117 mm 68 mm 39 mm 380 g 350 n Oct 2019 599ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-PL9 117 mm 68 mm 39 mm 380 g 350 n Feb 2018 599ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-M10 III 122 mm 84 mm 50 mm 410 g 330 n Aug 2017 649ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-M10 II 120 mm 83 mm 47 mm 390 g 320 n Aug 2015 649ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-PL7 115 mm 67 mm 38 mm 357 g 350 n Aug 2014 599ebay.com
9.
 
Sony A7R V 131 mm 97 mm 82 mm 723 g 530 Y Oct 2022 3,899 amazon.com
10.
 
Sony A7R IIIA 127 mm 96 mm 74 mm 650 g 650 Y Apr 2021 3,199 amazon.com
11.
 
Sony A9 II 129 mm 96 mm 76 mm 678 g 690 Y Oct 2019 4,499 amazon.com
12.
 
Sony A7 III 127 mm 96 mm 74 mm 650 g 610 Y Feb 2018 1,999 amazon.com
13.
 
Sony A7R III 127 mm 96 mm 74 mm 650 g 650 Y Oct 2017 3,199ebay.com
14.
 
Sony A7R II 127 mm 96 mm 60 mm 625 g 290 Y Jun 2015 3,199ebay.com
15.
 
Sony A7S II 127 mm 96 mm 60 mm 627 g 370 Y Sep 2015 2,999ebay.com
16.
 
Sony A7 II 127 mm 96 mm 60 mm 599 g 350 Y Nov 2014 1,999ebay.com
17.
 
Sony A99 147 mm 111 mm 78 mm 812 g 500 Y Sep 2012 2,799ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The E-PL8 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 88 percent) than the A9, 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 size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants 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 associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Sony A9 features a full frame sensor and the Olympus E-PL8 a Four Thirds sensor. The sensor area in the E-PL8 is 73 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.0 and 2.0. The sensor in the A9 has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the E-PL8 offers a 4:3 aspect.

Sony A9 and Olympus E-PL8 sensor measures

With 24MP, the A9 offers a higher resolution than the E-PL8 (15.9MP), but the A9 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.94μm versus 3.76μm for the E-PL8) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the A9 is a somewhat more recent model (by 6 months) than the E-PL8, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels.

The resolution advantage of the Sony A9 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the A9 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-PL8 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 A9 has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Sony Alpha A9 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 51200, which can be extended to ISO 50-204800. The corresponding ISO settings for the Olympus PEN E-PL8 are ISO 200 to ISO 6400, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-25600.

In terms of underlying technology, the A9 is build around a Stacked BSI-CMOS sensor, while the E-PL8 uses a CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

A9 versus E-PL8 MP

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.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Sony A9 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p24.913.3351792
2.
 
Olympus E-PL8 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p23.012.6103073
3.
 
Nikon Z6 Full Frame 24.3 6048 40244K/30p25.314.3329995
4.
 
Olympus E-PL10 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34564K/30p23.313.1132476
5.
 
Olympus E-PL9 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34564K/30p23.112.8116274
6.
 
Olympus E-M10 III Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34564K/30p23.112.8112074
7.
 
Olympus E-M10 II Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60p23.112.584273
8.
 
Olympus E-PL7 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.712.487372
9.
 
Sony A7R V Full Frame 60.2 9504 63368k/24p26.514.83187100
10.
 
Sony A7R IIIA Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p26.014.73523100
11.
 
Sony A9 II Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p25.014.0343493
12.
 
Sony A7 III Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/30p25.014.7373096
13.
 
Sony A7R III Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p26.014.73523100
14.
 
Sony A7R II Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p26.013.9343498
15.
 
Sony A7S II Full Frame 12.0 4240 28324K/30p23.613.3299385
16.
 
Sony A7 II Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.913.6244990
17.
 
Sony A99 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p25.014.0155589
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the A9 provides a higher video resolution than the E-PL8. It can shoot video footage at 4K/30p, while the Olympus is limited to 1080/30p.

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Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the A9 has an electronic viewfinder (3686k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the E-PL8 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. That said, the E-PL8 can be equipped with an optional viewfinder – the VF-4. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Sony A9 and Olympus E-PL8 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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Core Features
# image 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.
 
Sony A93686 n3.0 / 1440 tilting Y 1/8000s 20.0/s n Y
2.
 
Olympus E-PL8optional n3.0 / 1037 tilting Y 1/4000s 8.0/s n Y
3.
 
Nikon Z63690 Y3.2 / 2100 tilting Y 1/8000s 12.0/s n Y
4.
 
Olympus E-PL10none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 8.6/s Y Y
5.
 
Olympus E-PL9none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 8.6/s Y Y
6.
 
Olympus E-M10 III2360 n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 8.6/s Y Y
7.
 
Olympus E-M10 II2360 n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 8.0/s Y Y
8.
 
Olympus E-PL7optional n3.0 / 1037 tilting Y 1/4000s 8.0/s n Y
9.
 
Sony A7R V9440 n3.2 / 2100 full-flex Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
10.
 
Sony A7R IIIA3686 n3.0 / 2340 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
11.
 
Sony A9 II3686 n3.0 / 1440 tilting Y 1/8000s 20.0/s n Y
12.
 
Sony A7 III2359 n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
13.
 
Sony A7R III3686 n3.0 / 1440 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
14.
 
Sony A7R II2400 n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/8000s 5.0/s n Y
15.
 
Sony A7S II2400 n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/8000s 5.0/s n Y
16.
 
Sony A7 II2400 n3.0 / 1230 tilting n 1/8000s 5.0/s n Y
17.
 
Sony A992359 Y3.0 / 1229 full-flex n 1/8000s 6.0/s n Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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The E-PL8 has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies. In contrast, the A9 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 A9 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-PL8 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 A9 writes its imaging data to SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards, while the E-PL8 uses SDXC cards. The A9 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the E-PL8 only has one slot. The A9 supports UHS-II cards (on its first slot), while the E-PL8 can use UHS-I cards.

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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 Sony Alpha A9 and Olympus PEN E-PL8 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Sony A9Ystereo / monoYYmicro2.0YYY
2.
 
Olympus E-PL8Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
3.
 
Nikon Z6Ystereo / monoYYmicro3.1Y-Y
4.
 
Olympus E-PL10Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y-Y
5.
 
Olympus E-PL9Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y-Y
6.
 
Olympus E-M10 IIIYstereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
7.
 
Olympus E-M10 IIYstereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
8.
 
Olympus E-PL7Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
9.
 
Sony A7R VYstereo / monoYYfull3.2Y-Y
10.
 
Sony A7R IIIAYstereo / monoYYmicro3.2YYY
11.
 
Sony A9 IIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1YYY
12.
 
Sony A7 IIIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1YYY
13.
 
Sony A7R IIIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1YYY
14.
 
Sony A7R IIYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
15.
 
Sony A7S IIYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
16.
 
Sony A7 IIYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
17.
 
Sony A99Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0---
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It is notable that the A9 has a microphone port, which is missing on the E-PL8. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Sony A9 (unlike the E-PL8) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the A9 and the E-PL8 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The E-PL8 was replaced by the Olympus E-PL9, while the A9 was followed by the Sony A9 II. Further information on the features and operation of the A9 and E-PL8 can be found, respectively, in the Sony A9 Manual (free pdf) or the online Olympus E-PL8 Manual.

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Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is the Sony A9 better than the Olympus E-PL8 or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

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Arguments in favor of the Sony Alpha A9:

  • More detail: Offers more megapixels (24 vs 15.9MP) with a 25% higher linear resolution.
  • Better image quality: Features a larger and more technologically advanced imaging sensor.
  • Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
  • More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/30p).
  • 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 (1440k vs 1037k dots).
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (20 vs 8 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (650 versus 350) on a single battery charge.
  • Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
  • Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
  • Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
  • Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
  • Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
  • Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
  • Faster buffer clearing: Supports a more advanced SD data transfer standard (UHS-II vs UHS-I).
  • More modern: Is somewhat more recent (announced 6 months after the E-PL8).

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Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-PL8:

  • More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
  • Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
  • More compact: Is smaller (115x67mm vs 127x96mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
  • Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 316g or 47 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (88 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in September 2016).

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the A9 is the clear winner of the match-up (23 : 6 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. 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.

A9 23:06 E-PL8

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Sony A9 and the Olympus E-PL8 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 the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the A9 or the E-PL8 perform in practice. 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 why hands-on reviews by experts are important. 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
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Sony A95/5+ +4.8/589/1005/55/5 Apr 2017 4,499ebay.com
2.
 
Olympus E-PL8........4.5/54/5 Sep 2016 549ebay.com
3.
 
Nikon Z65/5..5/589/1004.5/55/5 Aug 2018 1,999ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-PL10....4/577/100..4/5 Oct 2019 599ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-PL9..+....4.5/54/5 Feb 2018 599ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-M10 III..+5/580/1004.5/54.5/5 Aug 2017 649ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-M10 II4.5/5+ +..80/1005/55/5 Aug 2015 649ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-PL74/5+....5/54/5 Aug 2014 599ebay.com
9.
 
Sony A7R V5/5+ +4.5/592/100.... Oct 2022 3,899 amazon.com
10.
 
Sony A7R IIIA..+ +4/590/1004.5/55/5 Apr 2021 3,199 amazon.com
11.
 
Sony A9 II....5/590/1005/55/5 Oct 2019 4,499 amazon.com
12.
 
Sony A7 III..+ +4.5/589/1005/55/5 Feb 2018 1,999 amazon.com
13.
 
Sony A7R III..+ +4/590/1004.5/55/5 Oct 2017 3,199ebay.com
14.
 
Sony A7R II5/5+ +5/590/1005/55/5 Jun 2015 3,199ebay.com
15.
 
Sony A7S II5/5+....4.5/55/5 Sep 2015 2,999ebay.com
16.
 
Sony A7 II5/5+4/582/1004.5/55/5 Nov 2014 1,999ebay.com
17.
 
Sony A995/5....84/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2012 2,799ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make your choice using the following search menu. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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    Specifications: Sony A9 vs Olympus E-PL8

    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 Sony A9 Olympus E-PL8
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Sony E mount lenses Micro Four Thirds lenses
    Launch Date April 2017 September 2016
    Launch Price USD 4,499 USD 549
    Sensor Specs Sony A9 Olympus E-PL8
    Sensor Technology Stacked BSI-CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format Full Frame Sensor Four Thirds Sensor
    Sensor Size 35.6 x 23.8 mm 17.3 x 13.0 mm
    Sensor Area 847.28 mm2 224.9 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 42.8 mm 21.6 mm
    Crop Factor 1.0x 2.0x
    Sensor Resolution 24 Megapixels 15.9 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 6000 x 4000 pixels 4608 x 3456 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 5.94 μm 3.76 μm
    Pixel Density 2.83 MP/cm2 7.08 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 4K/30p Video 1080/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 51,200 ISO 200 - 6,400 ISO
    ISO Boost 50 - 204,800 ISO 100 - 25,600 ISO
    Image Processor BIONZ X TruePic VII
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 92 ..
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 24.9 ..
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 13.3 ..
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 3517 ..
    Screen Specs Sony A9 Olympus E-PL8
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder Viewfinder optional
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.78x
    Viewfinder Resolution 3686k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 1440k dots 1037k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen Tilting screen
    Touch Input Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Sony A9 Olympus E-PL8
    Focus System On-Sensor Phase-detect Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing AidFocus PeakingFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/8000s 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 20 shutter flaps/s 8 shutter flaps/s
    Electronic Shutterup to 1/32000sno E-Shutter
    Time-Lapse Photographyno IntervalometerIntervalometer built-in
    Image StabilizationIn-body stabilizationIn-body stabilization
    Fill Flash no On-Board Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium MS or SDXC cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Dual card slots Single card slot
    UHS card support Single UHS-II UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs Sony A9 Olympus E-PL8
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    Studio Flash PC Sync socket no PC Sync
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port micro HDMI micro HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port no MIC socket
    Headphone Socket Headphone port no Headphone port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication NFC built-in no NFC
    Bluetooth Support Bluetooth built-in no Bluetooth
    Body Specs Sony A9 Olympus E-PL8
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed bodynot weather sealed
    Battery Type Sony NP-FZ100 Olympus BLS-50
    Battery Life (CIPA)650 shots per charge350 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging USB charging no USB charging
    Body Dimensions 127 x 96 x 63 mm
    (5.0 x 3.8 x 2.5 in)
    115 x 67 x 38 mm
    (4.5 x 2.6 x 1.5 in)
    Camera Weight 673 g (23.7 oz) 357 g (12.6 oz)
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