Key Features
Feb 08 2018
Announced
16 megapixels
Resolution
Brand | Olympus |
Sensor Type | Four Thirds |
Sensor | CMOS |
Weight | 380g |
MSRP | $699USD |
Other similar cameras

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Overview of the PEN E-PL9
Whether you're a professional photographer, amateur photographer, or just someone who loves taking pictures of your everyday life, Olympus PEN E-PL9 is a camera that can help you capture life's best moments. This powerful and compact camera comes loaded with features and benefits that make it a top choice for anyone looking to take high-quality pictures. In this blog, we'll break down everything you need to know about Olympus PEN E-PL9, including its features, benefits, and performance. So, without further ado, let's dive into our Olympus PEN E-PL9 camera review.
Olympus PEN E-PL9 Pros and Cons
Now, we will look more closely at our review of the Olympus PEN E-PL9 camera. We will see what it can do and compare it to other cameras like it. We will tell you what's good about it and what's not so good. This way, you'll know if it's the camera for you!
Pros
Cons
Build and Construction
Body and dimensions
Olympus PEN E-PL9
Weather sealed | |
Dimensions | 117 x 68 x 39mm |
Weight | 380g |
Thickness | 39mm |
Weather Sealing
The Olympus PEN E-PL9 is not sealed against water and dust, so it's important to be careful when using it in such conditions. If you often shoot in environments with water or dust, it's recommended to check out another camera with weather sealing.
Design and Handling
Main design features
View Finder | None |
Screen Type | Tilting |
Screen Resolution | 1,040k dots |
Body type | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
Suitable for:
Photography | Above Avg. |
Videography | Above Avg. |
Travel | Above Avg. |
LCD Screen
This camera has a tilting 3.00" screen, with a display resolution of 1,040k dots. This makes the Olympus PEN E-PL9 not as suitable for those looking for a vlogging camera as you cannot view yourself while shooting selfies easily. The camera also features a touch screen, which adds to its ease of use.
Viewfinder
Olympus PEN E-PL9 does not include a viewfinder. The lack of a viewfinder on the PEN E-PL9 camera may make it less suitable for outdoor photography in bright conditions.
Image Quality
Olympus PEN E-PL9 has a 16MP sized CMOS sensor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 16 pixels. Olympus PEN E-PL9 has a native ISO range of 200 - 6400 which can be boosted to 100 - 25600. It can also save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.
Key Features
Feb 08 2018
Announced
200 - 6400
ISO Range
Sensor | Four Thirds |
Extended ISO | 100 - 25600 |
Max resolution | 4608 x 3456 pixels |
DXO Sensor Scores
Overall
not tested
Color Depth
not tested
Dynamic Range
not tested
Low Light ISO
not tested
DXO mark sensor scores
The DXOmark rankings indicate that the Olympus PEN E-PL9 camera has excellent color depth performance, which refers to the number of colors the sensor can distinguish. Additionally, its dynamic range is also excellent, allowing it to retain high amounts of details in both bright and dark areas of a scene. The camera's low light ISO performance is excellent, which is an important factor to consider if you plan to use it in dimly lit indoor environments or at night. Overall the image quality of the PEN E-PL9 is excellent
Crop Factor
Camera crop factor (or focal length multiplier) refers to how a camera's sensor size affects the apparent field of view of a lens. Crop factor is determined by comparing the size of a camera's sensor to that of a full-frame sensor, which is a standard reference size for camera sensors.
Size comparison
Crop factor calculator
Crop factor
2x
Full frame equivalent
48mm
This camera: Four Thirds
24mm
Connectivity, storage, battery
Storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) |
Battery Life | 350 shots |
Battery Model | BLS-50 |
HDMI | |
USD | |
Wireless Connectivity |
Storage
The Olympus PEN E-PL9 supports SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) with 1 slots for storage. This may suffice for everyday use. However, for professional applications such as wedding photography, it is not recommended as a memory card malfunction could lead to the loss of all footage.
Battery
The Olympus PEN E-PL9 uses the BLS-50 model of battery pack. This is rated for 350 shots shots which is high. If you intend to take photos or record videos for an extended period, it might be a good idea to bring along additional batteries.
Photography Features
Flash
The Olympus PEN E-PL9 has built in flash which is great for event photography and in low light situations. It also offers a flash shoe that allows you to attach external flashes. This provides more versatility in your lighting choices.
Shutter
The Olympus PEN E-PL9 boasts a maximum mechanical shutter speed of 1/4000s, which is ideal for shooting fast-moving subjects in bright environments, such as in sports photography. Faster shutter speeds enable you to freeze the action and capture every detail, making it easier to get the perfect shot.
With a continuous mechanical shutter speed of n/a or an electronic shutter speed of n/a, this camera is not capable of capturing the perfect moment more easily, making it not as suited for wedding, sports, and wildlife photography. Higher shutter speeds make it easier to capture fast-paced action, ensuring that you never miss the perfect shot.
Autofocus
The Olympus PEN E-PL9 includes contrast detection autofocus (AF), with 121 number of focus points.
While contrast detection is generally more accurate and precise, phase detection autofocus is faster and more effective in most situations, particularly when photographing moving subjects.
Phase detection autofocus works by dividing the incoming light into pairs and then analyzing how they intersect on the camera's sensor. This method allows the camera to determine not only if a subject is in focus but also the direction and distance needed to adjust the focus to achieve perfect sharpness.
On the other hand, contrast detection autofocus works by analyzing the contrast of an image and adjusting the focus until the highest contrast is detected. While this method is very accurate, it can be slow, especially in low light conditions or when photographing moving subjects.
FAQ
The Olympus PEN E-PL9 features a CMOS sensor
No the PEN E-PL9 does not have weather sealing.
The Olympus PEN E-PL9 was announced on Feb 08 2018
Yes the PEN E-PL9 does have in-body image stabilization that can compensate for camera shake, making it easier to shoot handheld in low light conditions.
The PEN E-PL9 has a native ISO range of 200-6400, which can be expanded to ISO 100-25600 for even greater sensitivity in low light conditions.
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