Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV vs Panasonic Lumix G9

Olympus E-M10 Mark IV is a great affordable mirrorless camera option for still photography that packs a 20.3MP micro four third sensor into a lightweight body. Panasonic Lumix G9, on the other hand, boasts impeccable video recording capability and equips the same M4/3 sensor supporting 20.3 MP resolution. Let’s compare Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV vs Panasonic Lumix G9 and find which one would suit you the best.

Price Comparison | Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV vs Panasonic Lumix G9

A Closer Look | Olympus E-M10 Mark IV vs Panasonic Lumix G9

Still Photography

Both models feature a 20.3MP micro four third sensor. When coupled with the powerful image processors, Truepic VIII in Olympus E-M10 Mark IV and Venus Engine Panasonic Lumix G9 both models can produce sharp images. Since both models have very similar specifications it is safe to say that they produce almost similar results and there is not much to compare here.

However, let’s take a look at both models’ ability to produce a high-resolution image by stacking multiple images. This feature lets you shoot a very sharp image of the subject. But, it gets tough when there is motion involved in the scene. Panasonic Lumix G9 features a nicer option to shoot 80MP photos or 40MP photos with this feature. In addition, it also lets you grab frames from 60fps recordings so that you don’t miss a moment.

The Olympus E-M10 Mark IV can produce a high-resolution picture as well. In addition, it also features additional options that will let you shoot hand-held, thanks to its incredible image stabilization technology.

Video Shooting Performance Comparison

Both cameras can shoot 4:2:0 8-bit 4K videos. But the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV can shoot 4K videos up to 30 fps whereas Panasonic Lumix G9 features higher frame rates up to 60fps in 4K. At Full HD resolution, Panasonic G9 again outshines the Olympus E-M10 Mark IV in terms of frame rates with up to 180 fps support (60 fps more than Olympus model that supports up to 120 fps at FHD). Note that Panasonic Lumix G9 can also shoot 4K videos internally at 10 bit-depth with 4:2:2 color sampling which means it can record more color information than Olympus E-M10 Mark IV.

Along with the ability to shoot excellent 4K videos, both of these cameras support time-lapse recording as well. This will let you capture magnificent sunrise and sunsets. The superior dual storage card slots in Lumix G9 can let you record videos for a longer duration.

Winner : Panasonic Lumix G9 (Amazon) – Offers better video recording capabilities.

Autofocus, Continuous Drive and IBIS

Autofocus is one of the most crucial factors while selecting a camera. If your camera cannot track the subject fast enough, you will miss it every time. Both models have programmed incredible algorithms along with the contrast-detect AF system. Both models work incredibly while using a single point AF. Panasonic Lumix G9 features better face tracking autofocus capabilities and it also has an animal tracking option. Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV also falls short against Panasonic Lumix G9 with lesser contrast-detection AF points (121 vs 225).

Continuous drive speed is important in getting the right moment inside the frame once you focus on the subject. With the electronic shutter, Panasonic G9 can shoot continuous stills up to 20 fps whereas the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV can do the same at a lower frame rate of 15 fps. In terms of shutter speed, Panasonic G9 again outshines the Olympus model with up to 1/32000s vs 1/16000s maximum speed).

The in-built image stabilization(IBIS) in both models satisfy the needs of an average user. Both manufacturers also produce lenses with IS that can be coupled with these models to shoot photos hand-held at slower shutter speeds.

Winner: Panasonic Lumix G9 (Amazon) – Offers superior autofocus and burst rate.

Monitor and Viewfinder

Both models feature almost similar monitors for a live view and control. The 3″ tilting touchscreen LCD in both models is 1,040,000 dotted and supports the same 60Hz refresh rate. The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV features a tilting screen that can be flipped down to record videos or take selfies, while the Panasonic Lumix G9 has a fully articulating display that is a bit more flexible.

The game-changer in this section is the OLED viewfinder in Panasonic Lumix G9. It has 3,680,000 dots and a 120Hz refresh rate. This electronic viewfinder has better quality than the 2,360,000 dotted OLED screen in Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV. Even though this feature may seem not so important this is very important if you are a person who shoots through the viewfinder. The quality of the Lumix G9 viewfinder is very nice.

Winner: Panasonic Lumix G9 (Amazon) – Comes with a fully-articulated screen and superior OLED viewfinder.

Other Features

The lightweight Olympus E-M10 Mark IV will be a favorite for travelers and backpackers. Packed with extraordinary hardware and packed small. It weighs very light(383g) compared to the 658g weighing Panasonic Lumix G9, and yet have almost all things in the G9.

In addition, both models support charging via USB. This will come very handy if you are a traveler, one less charger to pack. However, the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV only supports USB 2.0 for data transfer. A superior USB 3.0 port is found in Panasonic Lumix G9, and it can speed you up significantly.

Specifications | Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV vs Panasonic Lumix G9

Conclusion | Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV vs Panasonic Lumix G9

Our Recommendation: Panasonic Lumix G9 (Amazon) – Offers amazing value for money despite being a bit pricier than Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV.

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