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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-P3

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Olympus PEN E-P3 front
Portability
86
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-P3 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
  • Revealed June 2008
  • Old Model is Olympus E-410
Olympus E-P3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 369g - 122 x 69 x 34mm
  • Launched August 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-P2
  • New Model is Olympus E-P5
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-P3 Overview

Following is a extensive comparison of the Olympus E-420 versus Olympus E-P3, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are sold by Olympus. The resolution of the E-420 (10MP) and the E-P3 (12MP) is very close and they possess the same exact sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-420 was announced 4 years before the E-P3 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight into a full comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the E-420 matches up vs the E-P3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Olympus E-P3

 E-420 E-P3 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P3 over the Olympus E-420

 E-P3 E-420 
LaunchedAugust 2011June 2008More modern by 38 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution614k230kSharper display (+384k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Olympus E-P3

 E-420 E-P3 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-P3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera, you will have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-420 features external 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) and the Olympus E-P3 has sizing of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") and a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-420 versus Olympus E-P3 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the E-420 versus the E-P3.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-P3 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-420 and E-P3 is 77 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-P3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-P3 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes simply by looking through technical specs. The picture underneath will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-420 and E-P3.

As you can tell, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You should expect to see the Olympus E-P3 to provide you with extra detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop images far more aggressively. The more aged E-420 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-P3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-P3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-P3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography info
Olympus E-P3 Portrait photography info
56
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
low MP (10MP)
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography details
Olympus E-P3 Street photography details
64
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
lighter than average in class (426g)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
76
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
has touch focus
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-P3 as a Sports photography camera
38
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
max frames per second low (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
bad battery power (500 CIPA)
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-P3 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than average in class (426g)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse function
bad battery power (500 shots)
low MP (10 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
60
has touch focus
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 Landscape photography features
Olympus E-P3 Landscape photography features
47
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inch)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
bad battery power (500 CIPA)
no Time Lapse function
65
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-420
Vlogging with Olympus E-P3
9
no video recording
35
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
doesn't have external mic socket
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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-P3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Olympus E-P3
 Olympus E-420Olympus PEN E-P3
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-420 Olympus PEN E-P3
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2008-06-23 2011-08-17
Physical type Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III TruePic VI
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4032 x 3024
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 3 35
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 614 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - 3:2 OLED with Anti-Fingerprint Coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 4.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m (@ ISO 200)
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Wireless, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 426 grams (0.94 pounds) 369 grams (0.81 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 122 x 69 x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 51
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 20.8
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 10.1
DXO Low light score 527 536
Other
Battery life 500 pictures 330 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $999 $0