• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 25,600
  • 35mm 847.3mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200

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Differences

Olympus E-PL6 advantages over Sony A9

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Thinner
    38 mm vs 63 mm
    Thinner
  • Lighter weight
    325g vs 673g
    Lighter weight
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots

Sony A9 advantages over Olympus E-PL6

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    35mm vs 4/3
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 5.93 vs 3.75 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 650 vs 360 shots
    Capture more photos
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Newer
    8 years vs 11 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • Higher-res screen
    360k vs 205k pixels
    More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
  • More pixels
    24.2 vs 16.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Faster shutter
    1/32000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    204800 vs 25600 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Touchscreen
    Both provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Tiltable Screen
    Both provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Internal flash
    Neither provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera

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Buy the Olympus E-PL6
Kit with 14-42mm Lens

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A9
Body Only
All A9 Deals

Review Excerpt

  • New sensor offers incredible performance; Excellent image quality at low & high ISOs; Very good dynamic range; Phenomenal 20fps burst speed & deep buffer; Very good battery life for a mirrorless; 4K video; Dual card slots.

  • Slow buffer clearing; Only one card slot is UHS-II compatible; Touchscreen underutilized; No lossless RAW compression option; No 4K/60p option.

  • Read our Sony A9 Review

The Competition

Compared to Olympus E-PM1

Olympus E-PL6
Olympus E-PM1
  • $299
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Touchscreen
  • $500
  • 4/3
  • Shoots 60p video

Compare Olympus E-PL6 vs Olympus E-PM1

Sony A9
Olympus E-PM1
  • $2995
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $500
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Thinner

Compare Sony A9 vs Olympus E-PM1

Compared to Panasonic GF5

Olympus E-PL6
Panasonic GF5
  • $299
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $450
  • 4/3
  • Bigger pixels
  • Internal flash

Compare Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic GF5

Sony A9
Panasonic GF5
  • $2995
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $450
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Internal flash

Compare Sony A9 vs Panasonic GF5

Compared to Panasonic GF7

Olympus E-PL6
Panasonic GF7
  • $299
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $590
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • In-camera panoramas

Compare Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic GF7

Sony A9
Panasonic GF7
  • $2995
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $590
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • In-camera panoramas

Compare Sony A9 vs Panasonic GF7

Compared to Leica SL (Typ 601)

Olympus E-PL6
Leica SL (Typ 601)
  • $299
  • 4/3
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $3999
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor

Compare Olympus E-PL6 vs Leica SL (Typ 601)

Sony A9
Leica SL (Typ 601)
  • $2995
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $3999
  • 35mm
  • Built-in GPS
  • Top deck display

Compare Sony A9 vs Leica SL (Typ 601)

Compared to Sony A9 II

Olympus E-PL6
Sony A9 II
  • $299
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Thinner
  • $4498
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor

Compare Olympus E-PL6 vs Sony A9 II

Sony A9
Sony A9 II
  • $2995
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • $4498
  • 35mm
  • Newer

Compare Sony A9 vs Sony A9 II

Compare Other Cameras?