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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PM1

Portability
77
Imaging
45
Features
36
Overall
41
Olympus E-420 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PM1 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
  • Announced June 2008
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-410
Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Launched November 2011
  • Updated by Olympus E-PM2
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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PM1 Overview

Following is a thorough assessment of the Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PM1, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both sold by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-420 (10MP) and the E-PM1 (12MP) is fairly close and they feature the exact same sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-420 was launched 4 years prior to the E-PM1 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go in to a complete comparison, below is a short overview of how the E-420 scores vs the E-PM1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Olympus E-PM1

 E-420 E-PM1 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Olympus E-420

 E-PM1 E-420 
LaunchedNovember 2011June 2008More modern by 41 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Olympus E-PM1

 E-420 E-PM1 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PM1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-420 has got physical measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") accompanied by a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Olympus E-PM1 has sizing of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PM1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at that time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the E-420 vs the E-PM1.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PM1 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-420 and E-PM1 is 77 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PM1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PM1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to see the contrast in sensor sizes merely by researching a spec sheet. The pic below will offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-420 and E-PM1.

As you can see, the 2 cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Olympus E-PM1 to result in greater detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-420 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PM1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PM1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PM1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography factors
Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography factors
57
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
megapixel count low (10MP)
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-420
Street photography with Olympus E-PM1
64
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lighter than others in class (426 grams)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
75
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-420
Sports photography with Olympus E-PM1
39
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
bad battery pack (500 CIPA)
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
max frames per second low (6.0 fps)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-420
Travel photography with Olympus E-PM1
53
lighter than others in class (426g)
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse function
bad battery pack (500 shots)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
45
doesn't have Timelapse function
low megapixels (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-420
Landscape photography with Olympus E-PM1
47
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inches)
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (10MP)
bad battery pack (500 shots)
does not have Timelapse function
65
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-PM1 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone socket
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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PM1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Olympus E-PM1
 Olympus E-420Olympus PEN E-PM1
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-420 Olympus PEN E-PM1
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2008-06-23 2011-11-23
Physical type Compact SLR Rangefinder-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 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4032 x 3024
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 3 35
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
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, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 426g (0.94 lb) 265g (0.58 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 52
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 21.0
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 10.3
DXO Low light score 527 499
Other
Battery life 500 photographs 330 photographs
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 feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $999 $499