Generally, some of the advantages of the Olympus PEN E-PL9 compared to boutique competitors include: it has a screen which flips out, has a slightly longer battery life (350 shots vs 250 shots), is thinner (1.5" vs 2.5"), has interchangeable lenses and has a built-in flash.
However, on average it has worse image stabilization (sensor shift vs lens), slightly lower maximum light sensitivity (25,600 ISO vs 102,400 ISO), lacks and external mic jack, users slower contrast detection autofocus (contrast detection vs phase detection) and has slightly fewer focus points (121 vs 4,779).
Fujifilm X70
2 years older
$1,365
Significant advantages of the X70 (vs the PEN E-PL9)
- Faster autofocus: Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Significant disadvantages of the X70 (vs the PEN E-PL9)
common strengths of the X70 and PEN E-PL9
- Fairly small: Mid size (113×64×44 mm) vs Mid size (117×68×39 mm)
- Flip-out screens
- Thin: 1.7" vs 1.5"
Panasonic Lumix DC-LX100 II
6 months newer
$898
Significant advantages of the Lumix DC-LX100 II (vs the PEN E-PL9)
- Better image stabilization:
- Lens
vs - Sensor shift
- Has a viewfinder: Digital vs None
- Much longer exposures: 1800 seconds vs 60 seconds
Significant disadvantages of the Lumix DC-LX100 II (vs the PEN E-PL9)
- Built-in lens only
- Screen does not flip out
- No built-in flash
common strengths of the Lumix DC-LX100 II and PEN E-PL9
- Fairly small: Standard size (115×66×64 mm) vs Mid size (117×68×39 mm)
- Light weight: 392 g vs 380 g
- Inexpensive: $897.99 vs $549.00
Fujifilm XF10
5 months newer
$449
Significant advantages of the XF10 (vs the PEN E-PL9)
- Faster autofocus: Phase detection vs Contrast detection
- Has an external mic jack
Significant disadvantages of the XF10 (vs the PEN E-PL9)
- Built-in lens only
- Screen does not flip out
- No external flash support
common strengths of the XF10 and PEN E-PL9
- Fairly small: Mid size (113×64×41 mm) vs Mid size (117×68×39 mm)
- Thin: 1.6" vs 1.5"
- Light weight: 279 g vs 380 g
Ricoh GR III
7 months newer
$900
Significant advantages of the GR III (vs the PEN E-PL9)
- Faster autofocus: Phase detection vs Contrast detection
- Has a viewfinder: Optical vs None
Significant disadvantages of the GR III (vs the PEN E-PL9)
- Built-in lens only
- Screen does not flip out
- No built-in flash
common strengths of the GR III and PEN E-PL9
- Fairly small: Compact (109×62×33 mm) vs Mid size (117×68×39 mm)
- Thin: 1.3" vs 1.5"
- Light weight: 257 g vs 380 g
Canon EOS RP
1 year newer
$1,299 - $1,699
Significant advantages of the EOS RP (vs the PEN E-PL9)
- Many more focus points: 4,779 vs 121
- Faster autofocus: Phase detection vs Contrast detection
- Has an external mic jack
Significant disadvantages of the EOS RP (vs the PEN E-PL9)
- Built-in lens only
- Larger: Prosumer size (133×85×70 mm) vs Mid size (117×68×39 mm)
- Significantly shorter battery life: 250 shots vs 350 shots
common strengths of the EOS RP and PEN E-PL9
- Flip-out screens
- Inexpensive: $1,299.00 vs $549.00