Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-P5

On this page, we will be matching up the Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-P5, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are manufactured by Olympus. There is a large difference among the resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and E-P5 (16MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

Photography Glossary

The E-420 was revealed 6 years before the E-P5 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus E-P5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a simple view of how the E-420 scores against the E-P5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus E-420 & Olympus PEN E-P5. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus E-420 Gallery & Olympus E-P5 Gallery.

When you are aiming to travel with your camera often, you should take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-420 offers external measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") having a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Olympus E-P5 has proportions of 122mm x 69mm x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") along with a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-P5 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use at that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-420 and the E-P5.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-420 and E-P5 is 77 and 85 respectively.

Usually, it's hard to envision the contrast in sensor dimensions just by researching technical specs. The pic below will give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-420 and E-P5.

As you can tell, each of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Olympus E-P5 to result in greater detail because of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots more aggressively. The more aged E-420 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.