Canon 750D vs Olympus E-420: A Detailed Comparison for the Discerning Photographer

When diving into the entry-level DSLR market, it’s easy to get lost among myriad options, especially when comparing cameras born from different eras and design philosophies. I recently had the immersive opportunity to test both the Canon EOS 750D (Kiss X8i) and the Olympus E-420, two cameras that target newcomers but with very distinct approaches. This detailed comparison is based on months of hands-on usage, hundreds of shots taken across multiple photography genres, and rigorous technical evaluation - all with an eye toward helping you find the best fit for your photographic journey.

Holding Them in Hand: Size, Ergonomics, and Build

Starting with the physical presence, size and handling can dramatically influence whether a camera feels like an extension of your creative vision or an unwieldy device you dread carrying.

The Canon 750D is a compact SLR body with dimensions of 132x101x78mm and weighs 555g with battery. Its grip is comfortably contoured, offering solid hand stability which is especially helpful when using longer or heavier lenses. The canonical Canon arrangement favors ergonomics typical of DSLRs, with tactile controls thoughtfully placed for intuitive reach.

In contrast, the Olympus E-420 is even smaller and lighter at 130x91x53mm and 426g weighted. Its slim line and almost pocketable form factor lean more toward compactness, favoring portability over deep customization controls. However, its thinner build results in a grip that can feel a tad cramped during extended shoots or when using larger lenses.

The E-420’s construction dates back to 2008, and while it feels solid enough, it lacks any weather sealing or rugged protection - a trait shared by both bodies. For those shooting outdoors or in less hospitable conditions, extra care or a protective case is recommended.

User Interface and Control Layout

Operating your camera efficiently without fidgeting is crucial in dynamic shooting situations. The 750D and E-420 opt for very different user interface philosophies reflective of their eras.

The Canon 750D’s top layout offers expanded control, featuring a dedicated Mode Dial, a rear 3-inch fully articulated touchscreen with 1,040k-dot resolution, and a quick control dial. From my experience, the touchscreen is fluid and responsive, especially welcome for live view focusing and navigating menus on the fly. The articulated display allows for diverse shooting angles - overhead, ground-level, or selfie-friendly - making it versatile for vlogging or creative framing. The Canon also includes an optical pentamirror viewfinder with approximately 95% coverage and 0.51x magnification, delivering a bright view consistent with traditional DSLRs.

The Olympus E-420’s controls feel more minimalist. It possesses a smaller fixed 2.7-inch LCD with only 230k-dot resolution, which I found quite limiting for image review and menu navigation. Although live view is supported, the absence of touch functionality reduces agility in setting selection. The optical pentamirror viewfinder here also covers ~95% but has a lower magnification of 0.46x, resulting in a slightly smaller viewing window. Operationally, the E-420’s controls are more limited: there's no dedicated quick control dial, and fewer direct access buttons, suited more toward beginners opting for simplicity.

Comparing Imaging Power: Sensors and Image Quality

A critical factor for photography is how well the camera’s sensor performs, which affects everything from detail rendition to noise handling.

The Canon 750D boasts a 24.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor measuring 22.3x14.9mm, delivering a sizable 332.27 mm² photosensitive area. This sensor, coupled with the DIGIC 6 processor, helps Canon push its image quality, boasting a DxOMark overall score of 71. Canon’s sensor offers excellent color depth (22.7 bits) and dynamic range (12 EV stops), enabling the retention of details in both shadows and highlights. Its native ISO caps at 12800, with extended sensitivity up to 25600, showing strong noise reduction in low light conditions with an effective low-light ISO rating of 919.

Conversely, the Olympus E-420 relies on an older 10-megapixel Four Thirds CMOS sensor sized 17.3x13mm, significantly smaller at 224.9 mm². Despite respectable image quality for its generation, it scores a weaker overall DxOMark score of 56. The color depth clocks at 21.5 bits, and dynamic range peaks at 10.4 EV stops, which is a limiting factor when dealing with complex lighting scenes. Maximum native ISO is 1600, reflecting limitations in noise performance; its low-light ISO rating stands at 527, indicative of noisier images at higher ISO settings.

In practical terms, this means landscape shooters or those capturing portraits with rich tonal transitions will appreciate the Canon 750D’s sensor superiority, while the Olympus is better suited to well-lit scenarios where ISO demands are modest.

The View From Behind: Screen and Interface Experience

In today’s digital age, the rear LCD is pivotal for composing shots, reviewing photos, and accessing settings - a reason I always pay close attention.

The Canon’s 3-inch articulated touchscreen is a standout feature for an entry-level DSLR. Its responsiveness allows rapid autofocus adjustments via touch in live view mode and offers multiple creative options for framing difficult shots. The articulation expands shooting versatility dramatically, something I used often for macro shots and street photography when shooting from hip-level discreetly.

By contrast, the Olympus E-420’s smaller 2.7-inch fixed LCD with low resolution severely limits usability. The inability to swing out or touch the screen brought more frustration when attempting unconventional angles or reviewing fine focus on images. For video shooters or street photographers seeking discretion, LCD feedback is far less reassuring on the E-420.

Autofocus and Burst Performance: Tracking Your Subject

Whether capturing a fast-moving athlete or a fleeting street moment, autofocus speed and accuracy play an outsized role in success.

The Canon 750D uses a hybrid autofocus system with 19 cross-type AF points, enabling precise autofocus in both viewfinder and live view modes. It supports continuous, single, and face detection autofocus, making it reliable for portraits and moderate action photography. This AF system helped me quickly lock onto subjects during a family soccer game, maintaining focus with steady tracking and lower hunting. The Canon also supports burst shooting at 5 fps, a good rate for entry-level enthusiast work.

Olympus E-420’s autofocus centers on only 3 focus points, lacking cross-type sensors and face detection capabilities. Its contrast and phase detection system is comparatively slow and less accurate in tracking moving subjects, which I experienced firsthand during slower street photography walks where autofocus hunting was more frequent. Burst mode maxes at 4 fps, which is adequate for casual shooting but less suited for intense sports or wildlife action.

Lens Ecosystem: Versatility Through Optics

Lens options are often a long-term consideration. Canon’s EF and EF-S mount is one of the broadest and most versatile in the industry.

The Canon 750D taps into a robust ecosystem of over 300 lenses, ranging from budget-friendly primes to professional-grade telephotos and specialized macros. This variety allows photographers to evolve their kit according to their niche - macro, travel, wildlife, or portraiture - without changing mounts.

Olympus E-420’s use of the Four Thirds mount paired with a smaller native lens library of about 45 lenses constrains flexibility, especially today since the Micro Four Thirds system has largely superseded it. Four Thirds lenses tend to be larger and heavier compared to Micro Four Thirds, and the slower progression of native GF-compatible lenses limits futuristic expansion.

Shooting Across Photography Genres: Real-World Performance

I tested both cameras across a range of photographic genres to assess practical use and image outcomes.

Portrait Photography

Capturing accurate skin tones and expressive eyes demands a sensor with excellent color fidelity and autofocus precision. The 750D’s face detection AF and numerous focus points provided confidence getting tack-sharp shots with creamy bokeh. I was able to use Canon’s EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens to great effect, achieving smooth subject isolation.

The E-420 produced decent portraits in well-lit scenarios but struggled with autofocus precision and lacked face detection - sometimes missing exact eye focus that I seek during portrait sessions.

Landscape Photography

With its higher resolution and superior dynamic range, the Canon 750D shines here. Detailed images with rich tonal gradations and less noise in shadowed areas made landscapes more vivid. Its articulating screen enabled creative compositions from tricky angles.

The Olympus showed respectable detail in good light but suffered from limited resolution and dynamic range, especially during sunrise or sunset shoots demanding nuanced tonal capture. Absence of weather sealing was a concern on damp hikes.

Wildlife and Sports

Canon’s faster autofocus system and 5 fps burst rate allowed better tracking of animals in motion and sports action. While not a professional-level speed demon, it met enthusiast expectations.

The slower and less accurate E-420 AF, with fewer focus points and modest burst speed, meant I often missed critical moments, making it less suitable for active subjects.

Street Photography

Here, the E-420’s compact size is a definite asset for discretion and portability. Its quieter shutter and smaller footprint drew less attention in candid moments.

The Canon’s larger body and louder shutter are less ideal for blending in but its instant autofocus and image quality rewarded deliberate compositions.

Macro Photography

Neither offers built-in stabilization, but Canon’s lens ecosystem includes excellent macro primes. The articulated screen was invaluable for framing fine details, whereas the Olympus’s fixed screen limited this.

Night and Astro Photography

Canon’s higher native ISO and better noise handling dramatically improved night shots. Low light autofocus was also more responsive.

The Olympus lagged, with lower ISO ceilings and noisier results. Its shutter speed range also capped at 1/60s minimum, which restricted long exposures for astro work.

Video Capabilities

Canon offers Full HD 1080p at up to 30 fps and microphone input - capabilities that served casual videographers well.

The Olympus lacks video recording functionality entirely, limiting multimedia creativity.

Travel Photography

For all-round travel use, the Canon’s better image quality, versatile lenses, articulated screen, and built-in Wi-Fi/NFC made it a stronger companion, despite being heavier.

Olympus wins on portability but is hindered by dated tech and limited optics.

Professional Use

Canon provides RAW support, respectable file sizes, and flexible exposure modes suitable for novice pros or serious enthusiasts.

Olympus’s older sensor and fewer options make it a less viable tool for demanding workflows.

Additional Technical Insights

Real-World Image Quality and Sample Gallery

Witnessing how each camera handles light, color, and detail is best done through sample images.

Canon 750D screen back Olympus E 420 screen back

In this gallery, you’ll notice the Canon 750D captures richer colors and finer details especially in shadow textures and skin tones. The Olympus, while respectable for its era, presents images with slightly less detail and dynamic range, particularly evident in high-contrast scenes.

Scoring the Overall Performances

Let me wrap my findings into a quantified overview based on comprehensive lab and field testing metrics:

Canon 750D clearly outperforms across all critical metrics, from image quality, low-light capability, autofocus, to ergonomics. Olympus E-420’s strengths are limited to being lightweight and portable.

Genre-Specific Strengths and Weaknesses

Breaking down performance by photography types gives a clearer picture:

• Portrait: Canon excels with precise eye AF and creamy bokeh.
• Landscape: Canon’s dynamic range advantage is significant.
• Wildlife & Sports: Canon’s autofocus and burst win decisively.
• Street: Olympus’s size offers an edge on discretion.
• Macro: Canon’s articulated screen and lens options dominate.
• Night/Astro: Canon’s ISO range and noise handling superior.
• Video: Canon only viable option.

Wrapping Up: Who Should Buy Which Camera?

Canon EOS 750D Recommendation

If your budget accommodates it, and you are serious about building a versatile photography kit that spans portraits, landscapes, wildlife, and video, the Canon 750D remains an excellent entry-level DSLR option even today. It strikes a fine balance between advanced features and beginner friendliness. The excellent autofocus, detailed sensor, and connectivity features prove highly valuable.

Ideal users:

• Enthusiast photographers who want a powerful, future-proof system
• Video hobbyists requiring Full HD and mic input
• Travelers needing solid battery life and versatile lens options
• Anyone aiming to explore multiple photography genres

Olympus E-420 Recommendation

The Olympus E-420, being over a decade old, is best considered by collectors, those nostalgic for the Four Thirds system, or buyers who prize the smallest possible DSLR footprint within a slowed feature set. Its image quality, while respectable historically, lags behind contemporary standards.

Ideal users:

• Beginners wanting an ultra-compact DSLR for casual shooting
• Street photographers focused on size and inconspicuous presence
• Budget buyers acquiring secondhand gear with compatible lenses

Final Thoughts from My Testing Desk

Throughout my extensive testing, I found the Canon 750D to be a trustworthy workhorse with tangible benefits across every important metric. The Olympus E-420 is a modest performer hampered by its older technology and design compromises. When searching for a camera that truly supports growth as a photographer - and can keep pace with your evolving creative ambitions - the Canon 750D clearly earns my recommendation.

If you are seeking a camera that feels like an intuitive, precise photographic partner and covers all bases from portraits to landscapes to video, investing in the Canon 750D offers unmatched value in this comparison.

I hope this comparative review brings clarity to your choice. Feel free to reach out with questions, and keep shooting with passion!

All opinions are based on my personal experience and rigorous side-by-side testing. Neither Canon nor Olympus has influenced this unbiased review.