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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus FE-5020

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Olympus FE-5020 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
20
Overall
29

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus FE-5020 Key Specs

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
  • Launched June 2008
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-410
Olympus FE-5020
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 24-120mm (F3.3-5.8) lens
  • 137g - 93 x 56 x 25mm
  • Announced July 2009
  • Additionally Known as X-935
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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus FE-5020 Overview

In this article, we are reviewing the Olympus E-420 vs Olympus FE-5020, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are manufactured by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-420 (10MP) and the FE-5020 (12MP) is fairly comparable but the E-420 (Four Thirds) and FE-5020 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizing.

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The E-420 was brought out 13 months prior to the FE-5020 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus FE-5020 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple view of how the E-420 matches up against the FE-5020 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Olympus FE-5020

 E-420 FE-5020 
Focus manually Very precise focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus FE-5020 over the Olympus E-420

 FE-5020 E-420 
AnnouncedJuly 2009June 2008Fresher by 13 months

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Olympus FE-5020

 E-420 FE-5020 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent display measurement
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus FE-5020 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-420 offers external measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") with a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Olympus FE-5020 has dimensions of 93mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 137 grams (0.30 lbs).

See the Olympus E-420 vs Olympus FE-5020 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the E-420 versus the FE-5020.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus FE-5020 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-420 and FE-5020 is 77 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus FE-5020 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus FE-5020 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing merely by going through specs. The visual underneath might give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-420 and FE-5020.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-420 because of its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field simpler and the Olympus FE-5020 will produce more detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images far more aggressively. The older E-420 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus FE-5020 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus FE-5020 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus FE-5020 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus FE-5020 Portrait photography highlights
56
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
21
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography info
Olympus FE-5020 Street photography info
64
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (426 grams)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
60
environment proof
lighter than competition (137g)
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography info
Olympus FE-5020 Sports photography info
38
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
low battery life (500 per charge)
24
environment proof
max shutter speed is low (1/500 seconds)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus FE-5020 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than competition in class (426g)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
low battery life (500 per charge)
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
65
lighter than competition (137g)
environment proof
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
missing Timelapse function
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 Landscape photography factors
Olympus FE-5020 Landscape photography factors
47
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
low battery life (500 shots)
does not have Time Lapse mode
31
rather wide (24mm)
environment proof
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual mode not available
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging advice
Olympus FE-5020 Vlogging advice
9
no video recording
28
rather wide (24mm)
lighter than competition (137 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
missing microphone port
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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus FE-5020 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Olympus FE-5020
 Olympus E-420Olympus FE-5020
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-420 Olympus FE-5020
Also referred to as - X-935
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2008-06-23 2009-07-22
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III TruePic III
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 3968 x 2976
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Min native ISO 100 64
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-5.8
Macro focus range - 1cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/500s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.10 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 640x480
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 426g (0.94 lbs) 137g (0.30 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 93 x 56 x 25mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 527 not tested
Other
Battery life 500 pictures -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model - LI-42B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card xD-Picture Card, microSD
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $999 $160