Olympus PEN E-PL9

Great design ; Articulating touchscreen ; Fast performance ; Built-in stabilization ; Ideal for beginners

Poor manual controls ; Some confusing operation

With the PEN E-PL9, Olympus has made the best possible camera for the smartphone generation, other than an actual smartphone. It’s pretty, compact, fast, and simple to operate — great for someone ready to jump into the world of interchangeable lens...

Size and portability ; Attractive design ; Easy to use ; Image quality and effects ; 4K video and Clips modes

No viewfinder ; No accessory port ; ISO limit is only 25,600 ; Only uses 3-axis IS system ; Modest sensor specs ; Relatively expensive

The PEN E-PL9 is perfect for first-time buyers who’ve outgrown a smartphone and just want a camera that reliably captures sharp, well-exposed images, fits in a bag and doesn’t look like a piece of military hardware. There are cheaper alternatives, but...

Snappy autofocus. 8.5fps burst shooting. In-body image stabilization. 4K video. Slim, attractive design. Tilting touch LCD. Built-in flash. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Aging 16MP image sensor. No EVF or add-on option. 4K video not easily accessible. Small Raw shooting buffer.

I'm being a bit kinder to the E-PL9 than I was to the E-M10 Mark III, which I reviewed earlier this year and gave a lower rating. Price is one factor, as the E-M10 is $50 more. Market is another; the PEN's appeal is to entry-level shooters, while the...

Small size ; Tilting screen ; Attractive retro design ; Fun effects modes

No viewfinder ; No USB charging

Overall, this is a great little camera for those who are new to photography, or for those who have a little more experience but want something ultra-light and portable for their travels. It’s therefore very easy to recommend.

Thin, nicely designed 3x optical zoom lens ; Shoots 4K-resolution video ; Relatively inexpensive ; Includes a built-in flash and hot shoe ; App comes with basic, but useful how-to videos

No electronic viewfinder ; Wi-Fi setup was a bit confusing ; Touch-screen LCD doesn't swing out to side ; Small grip

The Olympus PEN E-PL9 is a good mirrorless camera for those graduating from smartphone photography.

The Olympus PEN E-PL9 continues to deliver the same high image quality of other Olympus Micro Four Thirds cameras, giving excellent colour reproduction and great JPEG images straight from the camera. Noise performance is good, although doesn't quite...

The Olympus PEN E-PL9 continues to deliver the same high image quality of other Olympus Micro Four Thirds cameras, giving excellent colour reproduction and great JPEG images straight from the camera. Noise performance is good, although doesn't quite...