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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-M5

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-M5 Key Specs

Olympus E-420
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 426g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Released June 2008
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-410
Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M5 II
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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-M5 Overview

Following is a complete analysis of the Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-M5, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless and both of them are manufactured by Olympus. There exists a huge gap among the resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and E-M5 (16MP) but they feature the same exact sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-420 was launched 4 years before the E-M5 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go through a in-depth comparison, below is a concise overview of how the E-420 matches up versus the E-M5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Olympus E-M5

 E-420 E-M5 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Olympus E-420

 E-M5 E-420 
IntroducedApril 2012June 2008More modern by 46 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution610k230kCrisper display (+380k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Olympus E-M5

 E-420 E-M5 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-M5 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-420 features physical dimensions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") and a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-M5 has dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-M5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using at that time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-420 versus the E-M5.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-M5 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-420 and E-M5 is 77 and 81 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-M5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-M5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's tough to visualize the difference in sensor sizes simply by looking through specifications. The pic below might offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-420 and E-M5.

Plainly, both cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You should expect to see the Olympus E-M5 to provide you with greater detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos far more aggressively. The more aged E-420 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-M5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-M5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-M5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-420
Portrait photography with Olympus E-M5
56
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
71
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography advice
Olympus E-M5 Street photography advice
64
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition (426g)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
82
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
supports touch to focus
environment sealing
very good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography advice
Olympus E-M5 Sports photography advice
38
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
low battery life (500 shots)
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
environment sealing
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography features
Olympus E-M5 Travel photography features
52
lighter than competition (426 grams)
flash built-in
missing Timelapse function
low battery life (500 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
66
environment sealing
supports touch to focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
missing Timelapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-420
Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5
47
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
low battery life (500 CIPA)
missing Timelapse function
73
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-420
Vlogging with Olympus E-M5
9
can't record video
34
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not feature selfie friendly display
missing microphone port
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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-M5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Olympus E-M5
 Olympus E-420Olympus OM-D E-M5
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-420 Olympus OM-D E-M5
Type Entry-Level DSLR Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2008-06-23 2012-04-30
Body design Compact SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III TruePic VI
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Lowest enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 3 35
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230k dot 610k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.58x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 9.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels)
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180s 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 426 gr (0.94 pounds) 425 gr (0.94 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 71
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 12.3
DXO Low light score 527 826
Other
Battery life 500 photographs 360 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - BLN-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $999 $799