Canon SX260 HS vs Olympus E-PL9

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Canon SX260 HS vs Olympus E-PL9

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1/2.3 inch 28.1mm²
12.1 megapixels
25.00mm - 500.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Canon SX260 HS Review.
See real-world photos taken with the SX260 HS.

4/3 224.9mm²
16.1 megapixels
ISO 200 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Olympus E-PL9 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the E-PL9.

Succeeded by the Canon SX280 HS
Compare SX260 HS vs SX280 HS

Succeeded by the Olympus E-PL10
Compare E-PL9 vs E-PL10

Compare CANON SX280 HS vs OLYMPUS E-PL10

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Differences

Canon SX260 HS advantages over Olympus E-PL9

Less expensive
$350 vs $700 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
Slower slow-motion
240 fps vs 120 fps
Supports slower slow-mo
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
Faster JPEG shooting
10.3 fps vs 8.6 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)

Olympus E-PL9 advantages over Canon SX260 HS

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Larger sensor
4/3 vs 1/2.3 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 3.75 vs 1.54 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
RAW file ability
Yes vs No
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

350 vs 230 shots
Capture more photos
Newer
8 years vs 14 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
More dots on screen
1037k vs 461k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
More pixels
16.1 vs 12.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Longer exposure
60 vs 15 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Bulb shutter
Bulb vs No bulb
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 10 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/3200 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 6400 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Slow-motion videos
Both provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Eye-level viewfinder
Neither provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Integrated ND filter
Neither provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

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Buy the Canon SX260 HS

Canon SX260 HS

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Buy the Olympus E-PL9

Body Only (Black)

Body Only (Black)
Body Only (Brown)
Body Only (White)
Kit with 14-42mm Lens (Black)
Kit with 14-42mm Lens (Brown)
Kit with 14-42mm Lens (White)

Review Excerpt

20x zoom ranges from very wide to ultra telephoto; Wide range of exposure settings, including Manual, plus many auto modes; Full HD video at 1080p; Video autofocus and zoom while shooting, HDMI interface; Very good image quality; Built-in GPS.
Tight control placement; Low battery life; Soft corners at wide angle; Small front fingergrip; No live histogram. No raw mode.
Read our Canon SX260 HS Express Review

We haven’t finished our review of the Olympus E-PL9, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
Read our Olympus E-PL9 Shooter's Report

The Competition

Compared to Nikon S9100

Canon SX260 HS

Nikon S9100

$480
1/2.3 inch

Built-in GPS
Manual focus

$254
1/2.3 inch

In-camera panoramas
Fast startup

Compare Canon SX260 HS vs Nikon S9100

Olympus E-PL9

Nikon S9100

$700
4/3

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$254
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Slower slow-motion

Compare Olympus E-PL9 vs Nikon S9100

Compared to Nikon S9500

Canon SX260 HS

Nikon S9500

$480
1/2.3 inch

Bigger pixels
Manual focus

$470
1/2.3 inch

Slower slow-motion
In-camera panoramas

Compare Canon SX260 HS vs Nikon S9500

Olympus E-PL9

Nikon S9500

$700
4/3

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$470
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Slower slow-motion

Compare Olympus E-PL9 vs Nikon S9500

Compared to Canon SX280 HS

Canon SX260 HS

Canon SX280 HS

$480
1/2.3 inch

Shoots 24p video
Slow-motion videos

$300
1/2.3 inch

Built-in Wi-Fi
Shoots 60p video

Compare Canon SX260 HS vs Canon SX280 HS

Olympus E-PL9

Canon SX280 HS

$700
4/3

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$300
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Built-in GPS

Compare Olympus E-PL9 vs Canon SX280 HS

Compared to Panasonic GX85

Canon SX260 HS

Panasonic GX85

$480
1/2.3 inch

Built-in GPS
Thinner

$598
4/3

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic GX85

Olympus E-PL9

Panasonic GX85

$700
4/3

Built-in Bluetooth
Longer stills battery life

$598
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
Lacks anti-aliasing filter

Compare Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic GX85

Compared to Olympus E-PL8

Canon SX260 HS

Olympus E-PL8

$480
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
Built-in GPS

$599
4/3

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon SX260 HS vs Olympus E-PL8

Olympus E-PL9

Olympus E-PL8

$700
4/3

Shoot 4K video
In-camera panoramas

$599
4/3

Compare Olympus E-PL9 vs Olympus E-PL8

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