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Nikon D3200 vs Olympus E-420

Portability
67
Imaging
64
Features
63
Overall
63
Nikon D3200 front
 
Olympus E-420 front
Portability
77
Imaging
45
Features
36
Overall
41

Nikon D3200 vs Olympus E-420 Key Specs

Nikon D3200
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Raise to 12800)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 505g - 125 x 96 x 77mm
  • Announced July 2012
  • Previous Model is Nikon D3100
  • Newer Model is Nikon D3300
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
  • Superseded the Olympus E-410
Photography Glossary

Nikon D3200 vs Olympus E-420 Overview

On this page, we will be analyzing the Nikon D3200 vs Olympus E-420, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by brands Nikon and Olympus. There is a crucial difference among the image resolutions of the D3200 (24MP) and E-420 (10MP) and the D3200 (APS-C) and E-420 (Four Thirds) offer totally different sensor size.

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The D3200 was brought out 4 years after the E-420 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before we go into a complete comparison, here is a quick overview of how the D3200 grades versus the E-420 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D3200 over the Olympus E-420

 D3200 E-420 
IntroducedJuly 2012June 2008More modern by 50 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Nikon D3200

 E-420 D3200 

Common features in the Nikon D3200 and Olympus E-420

 D3200 E-420 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Nikon D3200 vs Olympus E-420 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to consider its weight and volume. The Nikon D3200 has exterior measurements of 125mm x 96mm x 77mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 3.0") along with a weight of 505 grams (1.11 lbs) while the Olympus E-420 has sizing of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") with a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs).

Check the Nikon D3200 vs Olympus E-420 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the D3200 against the E-420.

Nikon D3200 vs Olympus E-420 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the D3200 and E-420 is 67 and 77 respectively.

Nikon D3200 vs Olympus E-420 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D3200 vs Olympus E-420 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to visualise the difference in sensor sizes simply by going through a spec sheet. The image below should provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the D3200 and E-420.

As you can see, the two cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The D3200 because of its bigger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Nikon D3200 will show greater detail having its extra 14 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The younger D3200 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon D3200 vs Olympus E-420 sensor size comparison

Nikon D3200 vs Olympus E-420 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D3200 vs Olympus E-420 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D3200 Portrait photography information
Olympus E-420 Portrait photography information
78
manual focus
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
57
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
low megapixels (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Nikon D3200 Street photography information
Olympus E-420 Street photography information
60
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
64
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
lighter than competition (426 grams)
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D3200 Sports photography details
Olympus E-420 Sports photography details
65
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features tracking focus
supports phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
39
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
bad battery power (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon D3200
Travel photography with Olympus E-420
59
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
53
lighter than competition (426 grams)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse mode
bad battery power (500 shots)
low megapixels (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D3200 Landscape photography details
Olympus E-420 Landscape photography details
69
manual focus
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse recording
47
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.7")
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
bad battery power (500 CIPA)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D3200 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-420 as a Vlogging camera
27
features face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
does not have mic jack
9
can't record video
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Nikon D3200 vs Olympus E-420 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D3200 and Olympus E-420
 Nikon D3200Olympus E-420
General Information
Make Nikon Olympus
Model Nikon D3200 Olympus E-420
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2012-07-25 2008-06-23
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed 3 TruePic III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 23.2 x 15.4mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 357.3mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3
Highest resolution 6016 x 4000 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Highest boosted ISO 12800 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 3
Cross focus points 1 -
Lens
Lens mount Nikon F Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 309 45
Crop factor 1.6 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT LCD with 160� viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.46x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/200 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30,25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Optional None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 505g (1.11 lbs) 426g (0.94 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 96 x 77mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 3.0") 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 81 56
DXO Color Depth score 24.1 21.5
DXO Dynamic range score 13.2 10.4
DXO Low light score 1131 527
Other
Battery life 540 pictures 500 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL14 -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-I compliant Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $530 $999