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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL7

Portability
77
Imaging
45
Features
36
Overall
41
Olympus E-420 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL7 front
Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
81
Overall
64

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL7 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
  • Introduced June 2008
  • Superseded the Olympus E-410
Olympus E-PL7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Announced September 2014
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL6
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL8
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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL7 Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Olympus E-420 versus Olympus E-PL7, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both sold by Olympus. There is a substantial difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and E-PL7 (16MP) but they come with the same exact sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-420 was released 7 years earlier than the E-PL7 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going in to a complete comparison, below is a simple summation of how the E-420 grades against the E-PL7 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Olympus E-PL7

 E-420 E-PL7 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL7 over the Olympus E-420

 E-PL7 E-420 
AnnouncedSeptember 2014June 2008Newer by 75 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1037k230kSharper screen (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Olympus E-PL7

 E-420 E-PL7 
Manually focus Very precise focusing

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL7 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera often, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-420 offers outer measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") having a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Olympus E-PL7 has measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-420 versus Olympus E-PL7 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you select at that time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the E-420 versus the E-PL7.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL7 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-420 and E-PL7 is 77 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL7 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's difficult to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by checking specs. The pic below may provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-420 and E-PL7.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Olympus E-PL7 to give you extra detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged E-420 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus E-PL7 Portrait photography highlights
57
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
72
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography factors
Olympus E-PL7 Street photography factors
64
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lighter than others in class (426g)
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
84
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
features focus by touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-420
Sports photography with Olympus E-PL7
39
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect AF
max fps very slow (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (500 per charge)
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography info
Olympus E-PL7 Travel photography info
53
lighter than others in class (426g)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse mode
terrible battery pack (500 CIPA)
megapixel count low (10MP)
does not have selfie friendly display
85
features focus by touch
good MP (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 Landscape photography advice
Olympus E-PL7 Landscape photography advice
47
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
tiny screen (2.7")
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (10MP)
terrible battery pack (500 per charge)
does not have Timelapse mode
80
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging factors
Olympus E-PL7 Vlogging factors
9
no video shooting
78
selfie friendly display
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have external mic port
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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PL7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Olympus E-PL7
 Olympus E-420Olympus PEN E-PL7
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-420 Olympus PEN E-PL7
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2008-06-23 2014-09-01
Body design Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 3 81
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye no built-in flash
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 426g (0.94 pounds) 357g (0.79 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 72
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 12.4
DXO Low light rating 527 873
Other
Battery life 500 shots 350 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - BLS-50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $999 $499