Olympus PEN E-PL9 16.1MP Mirrorless Camera with M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 EZ Lens, Onyx Black

Hands-On Review: Testing the New Olympus PEN E-PL9 Camera

One of my favorite cameras of all time is the Olympus Stylus Epic, a fixed 35mm point-and-shoot. It’s small, produces shockingly sharp images and is unassuming — basically, it’s tailor-made for street photography. Flash forward a couple decades later and Olympus is still crushing it when it comes to packing a potent punch in a compact point-and-shoot, albeit with a few modern day updates.

With the 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 lens and my trusty sidekick in tow, I strolled the neighborhood on a glorious Seattle spring day to test out the latest offering from Olympus, the PEN E-PL9.....

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Versatile Range of Expressions

Features on the Olympus PEN E-PL9 such as Art Filter and Advanced Photo Mode deliver a versatile range of photographic expressions that are easy to create.

Art Filter lets you easily create impressive photos

Using smartphone-like touch operations, create an impressive photo simply by selecting an Art Filter and releasing the shutter. You can confirm the effect of the Art Filter on the rear monitor before you shoot. The E-PL9 introduces the Instant Film Art Fitler, which gives a nostalgic feel to your photo. This filter produces a warm effect on skin tones, and adds a greenish cast to dark sections for an impression of depth and an overall nostalgic feeling while remaining modern in style. This effect is enhanced in portraits taken with the flash.

Advanced Photo Mode makes difficult shooting methods easy

Advanced Photo Mode makes difficult techniques, such as overlapping images for a multi-exposure photo, easy. Simply set the mode dial to AP and select a shooting method.

Live Composite

Perfect for capturing light trails of stars or automobile lamps without the risk of overexposure.

Live Time

Captures faint light sources in dark locations. Light trails can also be captured. You can confirm your image as it is being recorded.

Multi Exposure

Overlapping two shots creates a dreamlike atmosphere in photos.

HDR

Captures photos with minimal highlight blowout and loss of shadow detail.

Silent

Turns off the shutter sound, autofocus sound (electronic sounds) and light from the camera. This mode is useful for situations where sound is inappropriate.

Panorama

Moving the camera horizontally/vertically while shooting creates a wide/tall panoramic shot.

Keystone Compensation

Adjusts for trapezoidal distortion which often occurs in photography of buildings or structures. Effects can be confirmed on the rear monitor prior to shooting.

AE Bracketing

Captures multiple photos of differing brightnesses so you can select your favourite.

Focus Bracketing

When focusing is difficult, this mode shifts the focal position and captures multiple shots. You can select your favourite shot after shooting.

Interchangeable lenses expand photographic expression

Change the lens to capture beautiful photos with defocused backgrounds, in high quality only achievable with an interchangeable lens camera.

M.Zuiko Digital 45mm F1.8

This is the perfect compact, lightweight lens for portraits. Strong defocusing effects make it possible to capture impressive photos where the subject stands out sharply.

M.Zuiko Digital ED 30mm F3.5 Macro

This macro lens lets you take close-up shots of accessories and other small objects. You can shoot subjects up to 14 mm away from the end of the lens for macro photos with beautifully defocused backgrounds.

M.Zuiko Digital 25mm F1.8

This bright standard lens can be used for many situations from portraits, to still life photos, landscapes, and snapshots. Enjoy capturing photos with beautiful defocusing effects.

Touch Selfie delivers natural compositions

The flip-down LCD monitor on the E-PL9 makes it possible to use the Touch Shutter for selfies without getting your hand in the shot. This feature delivers defocusing effects for self portraits with a natural composition only possible with an interchangeable lens camera. You can also select the self timer for changing poses while shooting and e-Portrait for smoother skin tones in photos. A playback button appears on the screen so you can immediately check your photos.

View useful tips on your smartphone

The Olympus Image Share (OI.Share) smartphone app features a Camera How To section which lets you access tutorial video content which you can view while you are on the go, useful when you happen to forget certain operations of the camera.
*Pictures are for illustrative purposes only. Screen captures in the monitor are composite images.

Share even better photos with the sophisticated Olympus PEN E-PL9
The Olympus PEN E-PL9 features technology that lets you easily capture artistic photos and has sophisticated exterior design that suits your stylish ensemble. You can easily import images taken with the E-PL9 to your smartphone for quick, easy sharing on social media.

Versatile Range of Expressions
Features such as Art Filter and Advanced Photo Mode deliver a versatile range of photographic expressions that are easy to create.

Art Filter lets you easily create impressive photos
Using smartphone-like touch operations, create an impressive photo simply by selecting an Art Filter and releasing the shutter. You can confirm the effect of the Art Filter on the rear monitor before you shoot. The E-PL9 introduces the Instant Film Art Filter, which gives a nostalgic feel to your photo.

Instant Film
This filter produces a warm effect on skin tones and adds a greenish cast to dark sections for an impression of depth and an overall nostalgic feeling while remaining modern in style. This effect is enhanced in portraits taken with the flash.

Advanced Photo Mode makes difficult shooting methods easy
Advanced Photo Mode makes difficult techniques, such as overlapping images for a multi-exposure photo, easy. Simply set the mode dial to AP and select a shooting method.

Live Composite
Perfect for capturing light trails of stars or automobile lamps without the risk of overexposure.

Live Time
Captures faint light sources in dark locations. Light trails can also be captured. You can confirm your image as it is being recorded.

Multi Exposure
Overlapping two shots creates a dreamlike atmosphere in photos.

HDR
Captures photos with minimal highlight blowout and loss of shadow detail.

Silent
Turns off the shutter sound, autofocus sound (electronic sounds) and light from the camera. This mode is useful for situations where sound is inappropriate.

Panorama
MoVIng the camera horizontally/vertically while shooting creates a wide/tall panoramic shot.

Keystone Compensation
Adjusts for trapezoidal distortion which often occurs in photography of buildings or structures. Effects can be confirmed on the rear monitor prior to shooting.

AE Bracketing
Captures multiple photos of differing brightness's so you can select your favorite.

Focus Bracketing
When focusing is difficult, this mode shifts the focal position and captures multiple shots. You can select your favorite shot after shooting.

Interchangeable lenses expand photographic expression
Change the lens to capture beautiful photos with defocused backgrounds, in high quality only achievable with an interchangeable lens camera.

Touch Selfie delivers natural compositions
The flip-down LCD monitor on the E-PL9 makes it possible to use the Touch Shutter for selfies without getting your hand in the shot. This feature delivers defocusing effects for self portraits with a natural composition only possible with an interchangeable lens camera. You can also select the self timer for changing poses while shooting and e-Portrait for smoother skin tones in photos. A playback button appears on the screen so you can immediately check your photos.

View useful tips on your smartphone
The Olympus Image Share (OI. Share) smartphone app features a Camera How To section which lets you access tutorial video content which you can view while you are on the go, useful when you happen to forget certain operations of the camera.

Easy Sharing
The PEN E-PL9 can communicate with your smartphone via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Importing images to your smartphone is now easier than ever before.

View and import images operating only your smartphone
Even when the camera is in your bag, you can use the Olympus Image Share (OI. Share) smartphone app to view and import images on the camera.

Automatically import images with Share Order
Simply use the Share Order feature to automatically import your favorite images to your smartphone. All you need to do is tap the Share Order icon on images you want to import. Afterward, simply turn off the camera and the selected images will automatically be imported to your smartphone.

QR code scan for easy initial setup
Initial settings for connecting to a smartphone is completed simply by scanning the QR code displayed on the camera. Complete settings with one simple step.

Refined Design with Excellent Operability
This model features sophisticated Olympus PEN design with a focus on operability. A variety of accessories are also available to make your PEN experience even more stylish.

A simple, sophisticated design that doesn't get old
Providing a comfortable hold, the simulated leather material used on the camera is placed across the exterior in a way that presents both a traditional and modern feel. Its simple, timeless design lets it fit in with any fashion ensemble, making it never feel as if it is getting old. A shiny textured coating and attention to detail in every component enhance the classy design.

Color variation
Four color variations including white, black, brown and blue are available to match your style.

Compact and lightweight body for high portability
The compact, lightweight body of the E-PL9 fits in the palm of your hand, making it highly portable.

Secure grip and easy-to-use mode dial
The grip is designed so that you can get a comfortable, steady hold on the camera while shooting. The mode dial is large and highly visible so you can quickly switch shooting modes.

Touch AF Shutter for intuitive control
With Touch AF Shutter, simply touch the subject you want to capture to focus and activate the shutter. This feature delivers intuitive control for quick shooting.

Image Stabilization and Other Advanced Features
The Olympus PEN E-PL9 features in-body image stabilization for capturing beautiful photos and movies with minimal blurring. It also has excellent basic features including autofocus and high-speed sequential shooting.

Blur-free high image quality
The E-PL9 features top class in-body image stabilization (IS) performance. Combined with the same TruePic VIII image processor as used in the top-of-the-line OM-D E-M1 Mark II, this feature makes it possible to capture beautiful photos with minimal noise even in dark conditions.

In-body IS provides confident stabilization for all lenses
Since the IS system is in the camera body rather than in the lenses, stability is achieved no matter what lens you use and even compensates for roll blur which tends to occur in dark locations.

Shoot beautiful handheld 4K video
Powerful in-body IS makes it possible to capture beautiful 4K video even when shooting handheld. It is also possible to extract and save still images from recorded 4K movies.

Auto Mode makes taking beautiful photos easy
Use Auto Mode and leave detailed settings up to the camera so you can easily capture beautiful photos simply by activating the shutter. The camera detects subjects' faces, eyes, brightness, color and movement and automatically selects the optimal settings.

Simply select a subject for optimal settings
Scene Mode features six themes including People, Nightscapes and Scenery. Choose one and simply touch the icon that most closely matches the type of scene you want to shoot to capture images using the perfect settings.

Built-in flash useful in many occasions
The E-PL9 is equipped with a built-in flash that can be used anytime, anywhere to capture images of appropriate brightness and minimal blurring. With it you can light up subjects that tend to be dark in backlit conditions or against nightscapes.

Quick and accurate autofocus
This model is equipped with a 121-point FAST AF (Frequency Acceleration Sensor Technology Autofocus) for comprehensive coverage of a wide area. It quickly and accurately focuses on the subject of your choice. It is also compatible with C-AF for continuous focusing on moving subjects, 9-point group target and Face Detection/Eye Detection AF which focuses on faces and eyes.

Up to 8.6-fps high-speed sequential shooting
The PEN E-PL9 features high-speed sequential shooting with a maximum speed of 8.6 frames per second. This makes it possible to capture split-second expressions on fast-moving subjects.