• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 12.3 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 12,800
  • 35mm 847.3mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200
  • Detailed specifications
  • Olympus PEN E-P3
  • Sony Alpha ILCE-A9
Links
Prices:   Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:    
Successor:   Sony A9 II
A9 vs A9 II
General
Model Number: E-P3 A9
Alternate Model Number(s):   ILCE-9
Camera Format: Compact System Camera Compact System Camera
Currently Manufactured: No Yes
Retail Price: $899.99 $4499.00
Street Price: $561.30 $2,997.00
Date Available: 2011-08-15 2017-04-15
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 17.3 oz (490 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
23.7 oz (673 g)
includes batteries
Size: 4.8 x 2.7 x 1.4 in.
(122 x 69 x 34 mm)
5.0 x 3.8 x 2.5 in.
(127 x 96 x 63 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: Live MOS CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer: Panasonic Sony
Effective Megapixels: 12.3 24.2
Sensor Format: 4/3 35mm
Sensor size: 224.9mm2 (17.30mm x 13.00mm) 847.28mm2 (35.60mm x 23.80mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 4.29 microns 5.93 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 2.0x 1.0x
Aspect Ratio: 4:3 3:2
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter: Fixed Fixed
Self-Cleaning: Yes Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: Yes Yes
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No Yes
DxO Sensor Score: 51 92
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 20.8 24.9
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 10.1 13.3
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 536 3,517
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 4032 x 3024 (12.2 MP, 4:3),
3200 x 2400 (7.7 MP, 4:3),
2560 x 1920 (4.9 MP, 4:3),
1920 x 1440 (2.8 MP, 4:3),
1600 x 1200 (1.9 MP, 4:3),
1280 x 960 (1.2 MP, 4:3),
1024 x 768 (0.8 MP, 4:3),
640 x 480 (0.3 MP, 4:3)
6000 x 4000 (24.0 MP, 3:2),
3936 x 2624 (10.3 MP, 3:2),
3008 x 2000 (6.0 MP, 3:2),
6000 x 3376 (20.3 MP, 16:9),
3936 x 2216 (8.7 MP, 16:9),
3008 x 1688 (5.1 MP, 16:9)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.2), MPO (3D), 12-bit RAW (.ORF) JPEG (EXIF 2.31), RAW (14-bit ARW 2.3 compressed or uncompressed), RAW+JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second: 3.1 20.0
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes Yes
Movie Resolution: 1920x1080 (60i (20Mbps/​17Mbps))
1280x720 (60p (17Mbps/​13Mbps))
1280x720 (30p)
640x480 (30p)
3840x2160 (30p/​25p/​24p)
1920x1080 (120p/​100p/​60p/​60i/​50p/​50i/​30p/​25p/​24p)
1280x720 (30p/​25p)
1920x1080 (1p/​2p/​3p/​4p/​6p/​8p/​12p/​15p)
Movie File Format: AVCHD, Motion JPEG XAVC S / AVCHD 2.0 / MP4; Audio: LPCM / Dolby Digital (AC-3) / MPEG-4 AAC-LC, stereo
Composite Video Out: Yes No
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes n/a
Video Usable as Viewfinder: n/a
HD Video Out: Yes Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Lens: Olympus 14-42mm f3.5/5.6 II R MSC M.Zuiko Digital Zoom Lens n/a
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 28 - 84mm  
Focal Length (actual): 14 - 42mm  
Zoom Ratio: 3.00x  
Aperture Range: f/3.5 (wide) / f/5.6 (tele) - f/22  
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range: 25 cm to Infinity
9.8 in to Infinity
 
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: 37.0mm n/a
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: No No
Digital Zoom: Yes Yes
Digital Zoom Values: 2x Up to 4x; up to 2x Clear Image Digital Zoom
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: Contrast Detect: High-speed, 35-point with Face Detection and Tracking. Auto from all 35 area, Single area from 35 area, Group Target area (9 area) from 35 area, Up to 8 Faces Detected Fast Hybrid AF: Wide (693 points (phase-detection AF), 25 points (contrast-detection AF)) / Zone / Center / Flexible Spot (S/M/L) / Expanded Flexible Spot / Lock-on AF (Wide / Zone / Center / Flexible Spot (S/M/L) / Expanded Flexible Spot)
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: No / LCD EVF / LCD
Viewfinder Type: Optional EVF mounted in flash hotshoe EVF: 1.3 cm (0.5 type) 3,686K-dot Quad VGA color OLED, 100% coverage, 0.78x magnification, -4.0 to +3.0m-1 diopter, Approx. 23mm eyepoint from the eyepiece lens, 18.5mm from the eyepiece frame at -1m-1 (CIPA standard), STD 60fps / HI 120fps, eye sensor
Focus Peaking: No Yes
EVF Resolution: n/a 3,686,400 dots (1,228,800 pixels)
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent):   0.78x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed):   0.78x
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: No Yes
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 614,000 dots 1,440,000 dots (360,000 px)
Touchscreen: No Yes
Articulating Screen: No Yes
Tilt Swivel Screen: No No
Selfie Screen: No No
Max Playback Zoom: 14.0x 15.0x
Top Deck Display: No No
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 12800 51200
Minimum ISO (native): 200 100
ISO Settings: Auto (customizable range), 200 - 12800 (1/3, 1 EV steps) AUTO, ISO 100 - 51200, expandable to ISO 50 - 204800
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Lamp, Fluorescent, Daylight, Flash, Cloudy, Shade, Custom WB, One-touch WB Auto (with Priority), Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent (4 settings), Flash, Underwater, Custom, Color Temp./ Filter (2500-9900K with 15-step Magenta/Green compensation)
Shutter Speed Range: 1/4000 - 60 sec 1/32000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 3.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: 324-zone Digital ESP, Center Weighted Average, Spot (~1%, with Highlight/Shadow modes) 1200-zone Evaluative Multi-segment, Center-weighted, Spot, Spot Standard/Large, Entire Screen Avg., Highlight
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: Portrait, e-Portrait, Landscape, Landscape + Portrait, Macro, Sport, Night Scene, Night + Portrait, Children, High Key, Low Key, DIS mode, Nature Macro, Candle, Sunset, Document, Panorama, Fireworks, Beach & Snow, Fisheye Conv, Wide Conv, Macro Conv, 3D; Art Filters (Pop Art, Soft Focus, Pale & Color, Light Tone, Grainy Film, Pin Hole, Diorama, Gentle Sepia, Cross Process, Dramatic Tone) Picture Effect: Posterization (Color), Posterization (B/W), Pop Color, Retro Photo, Partial Color (R/G/B/Y), High Contrast Monochrome, Toy Camera (Normal / Cool / Warm / Green / Magenta), Soft High-key; HDR: Auto Exposure Difference, Exposure difference Level (1-6 EV at 1.0 EV step)
Self Timer: 2 or 12 seconds 2, 5, 10; 3/5 shots after 2/5/10 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):    
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes No
Flash Modes: Auto, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction slow sync., Slow sync at 1st curtain, Slow sync at 2nd curtain, Fill-in, Manual (Full, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, 1/64), Off. Wireless flash control supported. Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Hi-speed Sync, Wireless; Red-eye reduction: On/Off
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): 7.0 m / 23.0 ft. n/a
Flash Range Description: Depends on lens aperture (GN=10m @ ISO 200) n/a
Max Flash Sync: 1/180 1/250
Flash Exposure Compensation: +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection: Hot Shoe Multi Interface Hot Shoe, Sync Terminal
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:   No
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: SD / SDHC / SDXC MS PRO Duo / SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:   UHS-II
Other Memory:   Slot1:SD UHS-II; 2:MS/SD UHS-I
Dual Card Slots: No Yes
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: 12-bit RAW (.ORF) RAW (14-bit ARW 2.3 compressed or uncompressed), RAW+JPEG
Movie File Format: AVCHD, Motion JPEG XAVC S / AVCHD 2.0 / MP4; Audio: LPCM / Dolby Digital (AC-3) / MPEG-4 AAC-LC, stereo
Included Memory: No memory included No memory included
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No Yes
NFC: No Yes
Bluetooth: No Yes
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: No Yes
Headphone Jack: No Yes
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 2.0 High Speed,Ethernet,Bluetooth,WiFi
PictBridge Compliant: Yes No
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: Optional RM-UC1 wired remote Optional via IR, USB , Ethernet or Wi-Fi/Bluetooth
Connections (extended): Accessory Port 2, Multi Connector (USB/AV/Remote), Mini HDMI (Type C) Multi Micro-B USB 2.0 (with remote support), Type-D Micro HDMI, 100Base-T Ethernet, 3.5mm Microphone and Headphone Jacks, Sync Terminal
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 0.74 <0.3
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): 0.71  
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): Unlimited  
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):   <0.3
Camera penalizes early shutter press? No No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 3.1 20.0
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 19 364
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   20.0
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):   240
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   20.0
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):   225
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.22 seconds 0.22 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele): 0.21 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.088 seconds 0.097 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash): 0.40 seconds  
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.060 seconds 0.020 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes): Multi-area Full AF: 0.267s  
Startup Time: 0.9 seconds 1.2 seconds
Play -> Record Time: 0.5 seconds 1.0 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power: 4.1 seconds  
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View): 330 shots 650 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF):   480 shots
Battery Life, Video:   105 minutes
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary BLS-1 or BLS-5 Proprietary
Usable Battery Types: Lithium-ion rechargeable NP-FZ100 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: Proprietary BLS-1 Lithium-ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary NP-FZ100 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included: Yes
Internal Charging Supported: Yes
Software
Included Software: OLYMPUS Viewer 2/[ib] CD-ROM Capture One Express (for Sony) free download
OS Compatibility:    
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: Sensor-shift Image Stabilization, 3-inch 610k-dot OLED Touchscreen, TruePic VI Image Processor, "FAST" AF System, Full HD movies, 10 Art Filters. Available in Black, White and Silver.