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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-P1

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-P1 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
  • Announced June 2008
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-410
Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Announced July 2009
  • Replacement is Olympus E-P2
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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-P1 Overview

The following is a in depth overview of the Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-P1, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both offered by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-420 (10MP) and the E-P1 (12MP) is very close and they enjoy the exact same sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-420 was unveiled 13 months earlier than the E-P1 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving in to a in depth comparison, below is a concise summary of how the E-420 grades against the E-P1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Olympus E-P1

 E-420 E-P1 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Olympus E-420

 E-P1 E-420 
AnnouncedJuly 2009June 2008Newer by 13 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Olympus E-P1

 E-420 E-P1 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-P1 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-420 has exterior measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") with a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-P1 has sizing of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") and a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-P1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the E-420 against the E-P1.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-P1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-420 and E-P1 is 77 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-P1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-P1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to envision the difference in sensor dimensions just by viewing specs. The image below will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-420 and E-P1.

All in all, both of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Olympus E-P1 to render greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-420 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-P1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-P1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-P1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-P1 as a Portrait photography camera
56
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
MP count low (10 megapixels)
60
focusing manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12MP)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography highlights
Olympus E-P1 Street photography highlights
64
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (426 grams)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-420
Sports photography with Olympus E-P1
38
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
terrible battery life (500 CIPA)
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
bad battery life (300 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography advice
Olympus E-P1 Travel photography advice
52
lighter than competition in class (426 grams)
flash built-in
no Timelapse function
terrible battery life (500 CIPA)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
43
doesn't have Timelapse recording
bad battery life (300 shots)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-420
Landscape photography with Olympus E-P1
47
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
terrible battery life (500 per charge)
no Timelapse function
60
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12MP)
bad battery life (300 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-P1 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
does not contain selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone jack
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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-P1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Olympus E-P1
 Olympus E-420Olympus PEN E-P1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-420 Olympus PEN E-P1
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2008-06-23 2009-07-29
Body design Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III TruePic V
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 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4032 x 3024
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 426g (0.94 lb) 355g (0.78 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 55
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 21.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 10.4
DXO Low light rating 527 536
Other
Battery life 500 photographs 300 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - BLS-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 card
Storage slots One One
Launch price $999 $182