Canon S95 vs Olympus E-420

Its time to look more closely at the Canon S95 and Olympus E-420, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Canon and Olympus. The image resolution of the S95 (10MP) and the E-420 (10MP) is pretty well matched but the S95 (1/1.7") and E-420 (Four Thirds) offer totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The S95 was brought out 2 years later than the E-420 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Canon S95 being a Compact camera and the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going into a thorough comparison, here is a quick summation of how the S95 grades against the E-420 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Canon PowerShot S95 and Olympus E-420. The entire galleries are provided at Canon S95 Gallery and Olympus E-420 Gallery.

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon S95 enjoys exterior dimensions of 100mm x 58mm x 30mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 195 grams (0.43 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-420 has dimensions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") along with a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs).

Compare the Canon S95 and Olympus E-420 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have attached at the time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the S95 and the E-420.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the S95 and E-420 is 93 and 77 respectively.

More often than not, it is very tough to visualise the gap between sensor measurements purely by looking at specifications. The graphic below might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the S95 and E-420.

Plainly, each of these cameras have the same megapixel count albeit not the same sensor measurements. The S95 contains the tinier sensor which will make obtaining shallower depth of field more difficult. The younger S95 will have an advantage in sensor technology.