Canon 1100D vs Olympus E-420

Below is a detailed assessment of the Canon 1100D and Olympus E-420, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by brands Canon and Olympus. The sensor resolution of the 1100D (12MP) and the E-420 (10MP) is pretty comparable but the 1100D (APS-C) and E-420 (Four Thirds) feature different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The 1100D was revealed 2 years later than the E-420 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before getting through a in depth comparison, below is a short highlight of how the 1100D grades vs the E-420 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Canon EOS 1100D & Olympus E-420. The full galleries are available at Canon 1100D Gallery & Olympus E-420 Gallery.

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera often, you should consider its weight and size. The Canon 1100D provides external dimensions of 130mm x 100mm x 78mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 495 grams (1.09 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-420 has specifications of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") with a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs).

Contrast the Canon 1100D and Olympus E-420 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you choose at the time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the 1100D against the E-420.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 1100D and E-420 is 67 and 77 respectively.

Quite often, it is very hard to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements purely by checking out a spec sheet. The photograph below will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the 1100D and E-420.

Clearly, both of those cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The 1100D having a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Canon 1100D will produce extra detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures much more aggressively. The fresher 1100D provides an advantage in sensor technology.