Any advantages of E-PL9 vs. E-PL7/8 (Image quality, speed, ...)

Hi,

I have an Olympus PEN E-PL7 which I have always with me (with Pana 12-32 lens) in my pocket. Now it gives some signs as of it could die soon (micro-switch of lens release button, often the screen stays dark an aperture value on "-.-" and it switches to MF mode when pressing lens release button).

With this I am thinking about replacing it, preferably by another E-PL due to the IBIS and great JPEG quality.

One possiblity is simply getting a used E-PL7/8 as there is actually no alternative to get this functionality in such a small body (Pana GM/GF/GXxxx have no IBIS), the other would be to advance (?)  to an E-PL9.

I know that the E-PL9 has a different UI, but at least for standard PASM shooting it would not be much more restrictive (I do not use MySets).

But are there also advantages against the E-PL7/8 (I know about that is has Bluetooth and built-in flash)? Is the image quality significantly better (due to new processor)? The JPEG quality? The speed/performance? Any other improvements or advantages?

Till

A family member got the E-PL9 as a present and I occasionally use it. They also have an E-P5. As for M43 cameras, I have an E-M10 and GM5 also as reference (and original E-PL1). While I prefer the handling on the E-P5 with the two dials, and the VF4 I can attach through the accessory port, I believe the SOOC JPEG from the E-PL9 is hands down the best out of all those cameras I listed. I shoot RAW or RAW+JPEG so for me I can process to taste in post, but on the E-PL9, it's set to only JPEG and absolutely no tweaking necessary, even high ISO shots up to 6400 ISO. Also, at least with the JPEGs, I feel highlights are retained better than previous gen cameras. The JPEG engine just gets out of the way and you can focus on composition with this camera. I do wish I were able to program a button to turn off LCD though as I use OVFs occasionally. Even better if there were any accessory port, but hey, the IQ is so good I guess I've learned to live with the flaws and the missing things. YMMV though. But for what you and many hobby photographers (in this case, I mean not so serious hobbyists) the E-PL9 is a decent choice and at least in IQ (particularly if shooting JPEG primarily) it is a leap forward, even though it remains at 16MP.

Thanks for the info about superior IQ.

Some extra question about the E-PL9:

In the setup menus I do not see the "Auto ISO" option with choices "All" and "P/A/S", which is to select whether one wants to have auto ISO in M mode. As the option is not there, does the E-PL9 support auto ISO in M? Or does it go to base ISO (200) when auto ISO is set and one goes into M mode? And if it does do auto ISO in M mode, is there a way to dial in exposure compensation?

Does it have more Dynamic Range in JPEG than your E-M10 (the equivalent to the E-PL7)?

Till

It is possible to have auto ISO in M Mode, I just checked.

It is not possible to set Exposure Comp in M Mode (not many cameras across multiple systems allow this). A work-around is if you shoot in Shutter Priority Mode and also have a lens with which you can change aperture on (ie. manual lens) then you will be able to do what you are asking about.

Thanks for checking.

I have now tested with a camera on display in a store and it indeed uses auto ISO in M mode when auto ISO is selected. Exposure compensation is not available then (same as E-PL7).

Till

Thanks for the answers so far.

I have again played around with an E-PL9 in a store and found out some more thungs about the UI (no IQ testing possible there):

With Setup -> C1 -> Info settings -> LV-Info you can create a custom screen mode with both level gauges and blinkies (overexposure warning) visible (live histogram can also be added) and in addition, this custom screen also shows the auto-selected ISO in the upper right when half-pressing the shutter button. So I have all important info at once. The E-PL7 can either have level gauges or blinkies on the screen and the auto-selected ISO does not show on the screen with the level gauges. So the interface has a point which is better than on the E-PL7.

In-camera Highlight/Shadow adjustment (in PASM up-arrow, then repeatedly INFO and control dial) has a mid-tone adjustment added (another improvement)

Many modes in AP and the Art filters allow exposure compensation (control dial) and also program shift (adjust shutter speed/aperture combo, up-arrow and then the arrow buttons), like in P.

Some modes are available in both SCN and AP, the version in AP has usually more adjustable parameters.

AP and SCN do not use the AF area selection you have done for PASM. They always use all 121 areas. You can change the AF area selection but if you change the mode it goes back to all 121 fields. In PASM your setting is remembered though.

As I am usually in PASM and also having a VF-3 and never used it the feature losses are not such a problem for me and better IQ and Bluetooth are arguments in favor of the E-PL9.

After all that I will most probably get an E-PL9 when my E-PL7 passes away, or perhaps an LX100MkII (but is very expensive).

Any further hints are welcome.

Till

generikku wrote:

A family member got the E-PL9 as a present and I occasionally use it. They also have an E-P5. As for M43 cameras, I have an E-M10 and GM5 also as reference (and original E-PL1). While I prefer the handling on the E-P5 with the two dials, and the VF4 I can attach through the accessory port, I believe the SOOC JPEG from the E-PL9 is hands down the best out of all those cameras I listed. I shoot RAW or RAW+JPEG so for me I can process to taste in post, but on the E-PL9, it's set to only JPEG and absolutely no tweaking necessary, even high ISO shots up to 6400 ISO. Also, at least with the JPEGs, I feel highlights are retained better than previous gen cameras. The JPEG engine just gets out of the way and you can focus on composition with this camera. I do wish I were able to program a button to turn off LCD though as I use OVFs occasionally. Even better if there were any accessory port, but hey, the IQ is so good I guess I've learned to live with the flaws and the missing things. YMMV though. But for what you and many hobby photographers (in this case, I mean not so serious hobbyists) the E-PL9 is a decent choice and at least in IQ (particularly if shooting JPEG primarily) it is a leap forward, even though it remains at 16MP.

I think you can turn off the LCD display so that you only see through the EVF.  I know with my em5 mk2, I have it to where I only see things through the EVF even image preview after I've taken the shot

No text.

Thanks again to all of you who have answered. I have bought the E-PL9 now. I got it for 499 EUR body-only plus Olymous' promotion of a free 30 mm 3.5 macro lens (list price 299 EUR, I will sell it).

Till

Till Kamppeter wrote:

Thanks again to all of you who have answered. I have bought the E-PL9 now. I got it for 499 EUR body-only plus Olymous' promotion of a free 30 mm 3.5 macro lens (list price 299 EUR, I will sell it).

Till

Nice, I think you will like it. The restrictions Olympus put on it are a little frustrating but it is a great little camera. Mine is not going anywhere except with me