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Canon 1D Mark IV vs Olympus E-PL9

The Canon EOS-1D Mark IV and the Olympus PEN E-PL9 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in October 2009 and February 2018. The 1D Mark IV is a DSLR, while the E-PL9 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on an APS-H (1D Mark IV) and a Four Thirds (E-PL9) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 16 megapixels, whereas the Olympus provides 15.9 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Canon 1D Mark IV
versus
Olympus E-PL9
Canon 1D Mark IV   Olympus E-PL9
Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
Canon EF mount lenses Micro Four Thirds lenses
16 MP – APS-H sensor 15.9 MP – Four Thirds sensor
1080/30p Video 4K/30p Video
ISO 100-12,800 (50 - 102,400) ISO 200-6,400 (100 - 25,600)
Optical viewfinder No viewfinder, LCD framing
3.0" LCD – 920k dots 3.0" LCD – 1040k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Tilting touchscreen
10 shutter flaps per second 8.6 shutter flaps per second
Lens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
Weathersealed bodynot weather sealed
1500 shots per battery charge350 shots per battery charge
156 x 157 x 80 mm, 1230 g 117 x 68 x 39 mm, 380 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV and the Olympus PEN E-PL9? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Canon 1D Mark IV and the Olympus E-PL9 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The E-PL9 can be obtained in four different colors (black, brown, blue, white), while the 1D Mark IV is only available in black.

Size Canon 1D Mark IV vs Olympus E-PL9
Compare 1D Mark IV versus E-PL9 top
Comparison 1D Mark IV or E-PL9 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Olympus E-PL9 is considerably smaller (68 percent) than the Canon 1D Mark IV. Moreover, the E-PL9 is substantially lighter (69 percent) than the 1D Mark IV. It is worth mentioning in this context that the 1D Mark IV is splash and dust resistant, while the E-PL9 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. A larger imaging sensor will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, although exceptions exist. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Canon EF Lens Catalog (1D Mark IV) and the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog (E-PL9). Mirrorless cameras, such as the E-PL9, have moreover the advantage that they can use many lenses from other systems via adapters, as they have a relatively short flange to focal plane distance.

Concerning battery life, the 1D Mark IV gets 1500 shots out of its Canon LP-E4 battery, while the E-PL9 can take 350 images on a single charge of its Olympus BLS-50 power pack. As can be seen in the images above, the 1D Mark IV has a battery grip built in. This facilitates image-taking in portrait orientation and gives it additional battery power.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

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Body Specifications
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon 1D Mark IV 156 mm 157 mm 80 mm 1230 g 1500 Y Oct 2009 EUR 4 699ebay.com
2.
 
Olympus E-PL9 117 mm 68 mm 39 mm 380 g 350 n Feb 2018 EUR 599ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 1D Mark III 156 mm 157 mm 80 mm 1155 g 2200 Y Feb 2007 EUR 4 309ebay.com
4.
 
Canon 1Ds Mark II 156 mm 158 mm 80 mm 1215 g 1200 Y Sep 2004 EUR 7 999ebay.com
5.
 
Canon 1D X 158 mm 168 mm 83 mm 1551 g 1120 Y Oct 2011 EUR 6 299ebay.com
6.
 
Canon 1D X Mark II 158 mm 168 mm 83 mm 1530 g 1210 Y Feb 2016 EUR 6 299ebay.com
7.
 
Canon 5D Mark II 152 mm 114 mm 75 mm 850 g 850 Y Sep 2008 EUR 3 299ebay.com
8.
 
Canon 7D 148 mm 111 mm 74 mm 860 g 800 Y Sep 2009 EUR 1 499ebay.com
9.
 
Canon 50D 146 mm 108 mm 74 mm 822 g 800 Y Aug 2008 EUR 1 099ebay.com
10.
 
Canon 60D 145 mm 106 mm 79 mm 755 g 1100 Y Aug 2010 EUR 1 149ebay.com
11.
 
Nikon D3S 160 mm 157 mm 88 mm 1240 g 4200 Y Oct 2009 EUR 4 999ebay.com
12.
 
Nikon D4 160 mm 157 mm 91 mm 1340 g 2600 Y Jan 2012 EUR 5 999ebay.com
13.
 
Olympus E-M10 III 122 mm 84 mm 50 mm 410 g 330 n Aug 2017 EUR 649ebay.com
14.
 
Olympus E-PL6 111 mm 64 mm 38 mm 325 g 360 n May 2013 EUR 599ebay.com
15.
 
Olympus E-PL7 115 mm 67 mm 38 mm 357 g 350 n Aug 2014 EUR 599ebay.com
16.
 
Olympus E-PL8 115 mm 67 mm 38 mm 357 g 350 n Sep 2016 EUR 549ebay.com
17.
 
Olympus E-PL10 117 mm 68 mm 39 mm 380 g 350 n Oct 2019 EUR 599ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The E-PL9 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 88 percent) than the 1D Mark IV, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon 1D Mark IV features an APS-H sensor and the Olympus E-PL9 a Four Thirds sensor. The sensor area in the E-PL9 is 57 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.3 and 2.0. The sensor in the 1D Mark IV has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the E-PL9 offers a 4:3 aspect.

Canon 1D Mark IV and Olympus E-PL9 sensor measures

With 16MP, the 1D Mark IV offers a slightly higher resolution than the E-PL9 (15.9MP), but the 1D Mark IV nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.70μm versus 3.76μm for the E-PL9) due to its larger sensor. However, the E-PL9 is a much more recent model (by 8 years and 3 months) than the 1D Mark IV, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels.

The Canon EOS-1D Mark IV has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12800, which can be extended to ISO 50-102400. The corresponding ISO settings for the Olympus PEN E-PL9 are ISO 200 to ISO 6400, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-25600.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

1D Mark IV versus E-PL9 MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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Sensor Characteristics
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Canon 1D Mark IV APS-H 16.0 4896 32641080/30p22.812.0132074
2.
 
Olympus E-PL9 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34564K/30p23.112.8116274
3.
 
Canon 1D Mark III APS-H 10.1 3888 2592none22.711.7107871
4.
 
Canon 1Ds Mark II Full Frame 16.6 4992 3328none23.311.3148074
5.
 
Canon 1D X Full Frame 17.9 5184 34561080/30p23.811.8278682
6.
 
Canon 1D X Mark II Full Frame 20.0 5472 36484K/60p24.113.5320788
7.
 
Canon 5D Mark II Full Frame 21.0 5616 37441080/30p23.711.9181579
8.
 
Canon 7D APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.011.785466
9.
 
Canon 50D APS-C 15.1 4752 3168none21.811.469663
10.
 
Canon 60D APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.211.581366
11.
 
Nikon D3S Full Frame 12.1 4256 2832720/24p23.512.0325382
12.
 
Nikon D4 Full Frame 16.2 4928 32801080/30p24.713.1296589
13.
 
Olympus E-M10 III Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34564K/30p23.112.8112074
14.
 
Olympus E-PL6 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.512.071768
15.
 
Olympus E-PL7 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.712.487372
16.
 
Olympus E-PL8 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p23.012.6103073
17.
 
Olympus E-PL10 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34564K/30p23.313.1132476
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the E-PL9 provides a better video resolution than the 1D Mark IV. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Canon is limited to 1080/30p.

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the 1D Mark IV has an optical viewfinder, which can be very useful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the E-PL9 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon 1D Mark IV, the Olympus E-PL9, and comparable cameras.

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Core Features
  empty Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Canon 1D Mark IVoptical Y3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/8000s 10.0/s n n
2.
 
Olympus E-PL9none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 8.6/s Y Y
3.
 
Canon 1D Mark IIIoptical Y3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/8000s 10.0/s n n
4.
 
Canon 1Ds Mark IIoptical Y2.0 / 230 fixed n 1/8000s 4.0/s n n
5.
 
Canon 1D Xoptical Y3.2 / 1040 fixed n 1/8000s 14.0/s n n
6.
 
Canon 1D X Mark IIoptical Y3.2 / 1620 fixed Y 1/8000s 16.0/s n n
7.
 
Canon 5D Mark IIoptical Y3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/8000s 3.9/s n n
8.
 
Canon 7Doptical Y3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/8000s 8.0/s Y n
9.
 
Canon 50Doptical Y3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/8000s 6.3/s Y n
10.
 
Canon 60Doptical Y3.0 / 1040 swivel n 1/8000s 5.3/s Y n
11.
 
Nikon D3Soptical Y3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/8000s 11.0/s n n
12.
 
Nikon D4optical Y3.2 / 921 fixed n 1/8000s 11.0/s n n
13.
 
Olympus E-M10 III2360 n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 8.6/s Y Y
14.
 
Olympus E-PL6optional n3.0 / 460 tilting Y 1/4000s 8.0/s n Y
15.
 
Olympus E-PL7optional n3.0 / 1037 tilting Y 1/4000s 8.0/s n Y
16.
 
Olympus E-PL8optional n3.0 / 1037 tilting Y 1/4000s 8.0/s n Y
17.
 
Olympus E-PL10none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 8.6/s Y Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One feature that is present on the 1D Mark IV, but is missing on the E-PL9 is a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

The E-PL9 has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies. In contrast, the 1D Mark IV does not have a selfie-screen.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the E-PL9 is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Olympus E-PL9 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The 1D Mark IV writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or SDHC cards, while the E-PL9 uses SDXC cards. The 1D Mark IV features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the E-PL9 only has one slot. The E-PL9 supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the 1D Mark IV cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV and Olympus PEN E-PL9 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Canon 1D Mark IVYstereo / -Y-mini2.0---
2.
 
Olympus E-PL9Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y-Y
3.
 
Canon 1D Mark IIIY- / ----2.0---
4.
 
Canon 1Ds Mark IIY- / ----2.0---
5.
 
Canon 1D XYmono / -Y-mini2.0---
6.
 
Canon 1D X Mark IIYmono / monoYYmini3.0---
7.
 
Canon 5D Mark IIYmono / monoY-mini2.0---
8.
 
Canon 7DYmono / -Y-mini2.0---
9.
 
Canon 50DY- / ---mini2.0---
10.
 
Canon 60DYmono / monoY-mini2.0---
11.
 
Nikon D3SYstereo / ---mini2.0---
12.
 
Nikon D4Ymono / monoYYmicro2.0---
13.
 
Olympus E-M10 IIIYstereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
14.
 
Olympus E-PL6Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
15.
 
Olympus E-PL7Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
16.
 
Olympus E-PL8Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
17.
 
Olympus E-PL10Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y-Y

It is notable that the 1D Mark IV has a microphone port, which is missing on the E-PL9. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Canon 1D Mark IV (unlike the E-PL9) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the 1D Mark IV and the E-PL9 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The E-PL9 was replaced by the Olympus E-PL10, while the 1D Mark IV does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the 1D Mark IV and E-PL9 can be found, respectively, in the Canon 1D Mark IV Manual (free pdf) or the online Olympus E-PL9 Manual.

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Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is the Canon 1D Mark IV better than the Olympus E-PL9 or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

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Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV:

  • Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
  • Easier framing: Has an optical viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
  • Easier setting verification: Features an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 8.6 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • More portrait friendly: Features an integrated vertical grip for easier portrait shooting.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (1500 versus 350) on a single battery charge.
  • Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
  • Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
  • Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in October 2009).

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Arguments in favor of the Olympus PEN E-PL9:

  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/30p).
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1040k vs 920k dots).
  • More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
  • Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
  • More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
  • Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
  • Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
  • More compact: Is smaller (117x68mm vs 156x157mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
  • Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 850g or 69 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
  • Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
  • More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.
  • Easier fill-in: Has a small integrated flash to brighten shadows of backlit subjects.
  • Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
  • Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
  • Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (88 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More modern: Reflects 8 years and 3 months of technical progress since the 1D Mark IV launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the E-PL9 is the clear winner of the contest (17 : 11 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

1D Mark IV 11:17 E-PL9

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 1D Mark IV and the Olympus E-PL9 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the 1D Mark IV or the E-PL9. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon 1D Mark IV5/5....89/100.... Oct 2009 EUR 4 699ebay.com
2.
 
Olympus E-PL9..+....4.5/54/5 Feb 2018 EUR 599ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 1D Mark III............ Feb 2007 EUR 4 309ebay.com
4.
 
Canon 1Ds Mark II......+ +.... Sep 2004 EUR 7 999ebay.com
5.
 
Canon 1D X5/5......4.5/54.5/5 Oct 2011 EUR 6 299ebay.com
6.
 
Canon 1D X Mark II....4.5/589/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2016 EUR 6 299ebay.com
7.
 
Canon 5D Mark II4/591/100..79/1004/5.. Sep 2008 EUR 3 299ebay.com
8.
 
Canon 7D5/5+ +..84/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2009 EUR 1 499ebay.com
9.
 
Canon 50D..+ +..+ +4.5/54.5/5 Aug 2008 EUR 1 099ebay.com
10.
 
Canon 60D5/5+..79/1004/54.5/5 Aug 2010 EUR 1 149ebay.com
11.
 
Nikon D3S5/5....89/1004.5/55/5 Oct 2009 EUR 4 999ebay.com
12.
 
Nikon D4........4.5/54.5/5 Jan 2012 EUR 5 999ebay.com
13.
 
Olympus E-M10 III..+5/580/1004.5/54.5/5 Aug 2017 EUR 649ebay.com
14.
 
Olympus E-PL6............ May 2013 EUR 599ebay.com
15.
 
Olympus E-PL74/5+....5/54/5 Aug 2014 EUR 599ebay.com
16.
 
Olympus E-PL8........4.5/54/5 Sep 2016 EUR 549ebay.com
17.
 
Olympus E-PL10....4/577/100..4/5 Oct 2019 EUR 599ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just use the search menu below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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    Specifications: Canon 1D Mark IV vs Olympus E-PL9

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Canon 1D Mark IV Olympus E-PL9
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Canon EF mount lenses Micro Four Thirds lenses
    Launch Date October 2009 February 2018
    Launch Price USD 4,999 USD 599
    Sensor Specs Canon 1D Mark IV Olympus E-PL9
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-H Sensor Four Thirds Sensor
    Sensor Size 27.9 x 18.6 mm 17.3 x 13.0 mm
    Sensor Area 518.94 mm2 224.9 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 33.5 mm 21.6 mm
    Crop Factor 1.3x 2.0x
    Sensor Resolution 16 Megapixels 15.9 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4896 x 3264 pixels 4608 x 3456 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 5.70 μm 3.76 μm
    Pixel Density 3.08 MP/cm2 7.08 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/30p Video 4K/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 12,800 ISO 200 - 6,400 ISO
    ISO Boost 50 - 102,400 ISO 100 - 25,600 ISO
    Image Processor DIGIC IV TruePic VIII
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 74 ..
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 22.8 ..
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 12.0 ..
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 1320 ..
    Screen Specs Canon 1D Mark IV Olympus E-PL9
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder no viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.58x
    Top-Level Screen Control Panel no Top Display
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 920k dots 1040k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Tilting screen
    Touch Input no Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Canon 1D Mark IV Olympus E-PL9
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking FeatureFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/8000s 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 10 shutter flaps/s 8.6 shutter flaps/s
    Electronic Shutterno E-Shutterup to 1/16000s
    Time-Lapse Photographyno IntervalometerIntervalometer built-in
    Image StabilizationLens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
    Fill Flash no On-Board Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium CF or SDHC cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Dual card slots Single card slot
    UHS card support no UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs Canon 1D Mark IV Olympus E-PL9
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    Studio Flash PC Sync socket no PC Sync
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI micro HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port no MIC socket
    Wifi Support no Wifi Wifi built-in
    Bluetooth Support no Bluetooth Bluetooth built-in
    Body Specs Canon 1D Mark IV Olympus E-PL9
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed bodynot weather sealed
    Battery Type Canon LP-E4 Olympus BLS-50
    Battery Life (CIPA)1500 shots per charge350 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 156 x 157 x 80 mm
    (6.1 x 6.2 x 3.1 in)
    117 x 68 x 39 mm
    (4.6 x 2.7 x 1.5 in)
    Camera Weight 1230 g (43.4 oz) 380 g (13.4 oz)
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