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Canon 5D vs Olympus E-420

Portability
55
Imaging
55
Features
41
Overall
49
Canon EOS 5D front
 
Olympus E-420 front
Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40

Canon 5D vs Olympus E-420 Key Specs

Canon 5D
(Full Review)
  • 13MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 895g - 152 x 113 x 75mm
  • Introduced November 2005
  • Newer Model is Canon 5D MII
Olympus E-420
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 426g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Introduced June 2008
  • Older Model is Olympus E-410
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Canon 5D vs Olympus E-420 Overview

In this article, we will be comparing the Canon 5D vs Olympus E-420, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Canon and Olympus. There exists a considerable gap among the sensor resolutions of the 5D (13MP) and E-420 (10MP) and the 5D (Full frame) and E-420 (Four Thirds) use different sensor dimensions.

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The 5D was manufactured 3 years earlier than the E-420 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Canon 5D being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a complete comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the 5D matches up vs the E-420 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon 5D over the Olympus E-420

 5D E-420 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Canon 5D

 E-420 5D 
IntroducedJune 2008November 2005Fresher by 31 months
Screen sizing2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Canon 5D and Olympus E-420

 5D E-420 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Canon 5D vs Olympus E-420 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Canon 5D offers outer dimensions of 152mm x 113mm x 75mm (6.0" x 4.4" x 3.0") having a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs) and the Olympus E-420 has proportions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") having a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon 5D vs Olympus E-420 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the 5D against the E-420.

Canon 5D vs Olympus E-420 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 5D and E-420 is 55 and 77 respectively.

Canon 5D vs Olympus E-420 top view buttons comparison

Canon 5D vs Olympus E-420 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to picture the contrast in sensor sizing simply by going through specifications. The graphic here should offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the 5D and E-420.

Plainly, the 2 cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The 5D featuring a bigger sensor is going to make getting bokeh easier and the Canon 5D will show greater detail due to its extra 3MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older 5D will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon 5D vs Olympus E-420 sensor size comparison

Canon 5D vs Olympus E-420 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 5D vs Olympus E-420 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 5D as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-420 as a Portrait photography camera
65
manual focus
megapixel count good (13 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
does not have liveview
56
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Canon 5D Street photography features
Olympus E-420 Street photography features
56
sensor size is large (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
64
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than average in class (426g)
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon 5D as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-420 as a Sports photography camera
55
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
megapixel count good (13MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
weather sealing
has phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery power (800 per charge)
38
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
slow frames per second (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
not so great battery life (500 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon 5D
Travel photography with Olympus E-420
49
weather sealing
megapixel count good (13MP)
lack of Timelapse function
not so great battery power (800 CIPA)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
52
lighter than average in class (426g)
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (500 shots)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 5D Landscape photography details
Olympus E-420 Landscape photography details
54
manual focus
switch lenses (Canon EF mount)
megapixel count good (13MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
small screen (2.5")
does not have liveview
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery power (800 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
47
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
not so great battery life (500 shots)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon 5D
Vlogging with Olympus E-420
9
no video shooting
9
no video
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Canon 5D vs Olympus E-420 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 5D and Olympus E-420
 Canon EOS 5DOlympus E-420
General Information
Brand Name Canon Olympus
Model type Canon EOS 5D Olympus E-420
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2005-11-12 2008-06-23
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Digic II TruePic III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 36 x 24mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 864.0mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 13MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3
Peak resolution 4368 x 2912 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 3200 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 3
Lens
Lens support Canon EF Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 250 45
Focal length multiplier 1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT liquid-crystal color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 96% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.46x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings External Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/200 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Highest video resolution None None
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 895 gr (1.97 pounds) 426 gr (0.94 pounds)
Dimensions 152 x 113 x 75mm (6.0" x 4.4" x 3.0") 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 71 56
DXO Color Depth rating 22.9 21.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.1 10.4
DXO Low light rating 1368 527
Other
Battery life 800 photographs 500 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BP-511A -
Self timer Yes (10 sec (2 sec with mirror lock-up)) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $2,780 $999