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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PM2

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PM2 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
  • Released June 2008
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-410
Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Introduced May 2013
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PM1
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PM2 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PM2, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both built by Olympus. There exists a sizable gap among the image resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and E-PM2 (16MP) but both cameras have the identical sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-420 was introduced 5 years earlier than the E-PM2 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a short view of how the E-420 scores versus the E-PM2 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Olympus E-PM2

 E-420 E-PM2 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Olympus E-420

 E-PM2 E-420 
IntroducedMay 2013June 2008More recent by 59 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Olympus E-PM2

 E-420 E-PM2 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PM2 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera often, you should think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-420 comes with outside dimensions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") and a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Olympus E-PM2 has measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PM2 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are using during that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the E-420 versus the E-PM2.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PM2 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-420 and E-PM2 is 77 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PM2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PM2 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements simply by looking through a spec sheet. The visual here will give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-420 and E-PM2.

As you can see, both cameras come with the identical sensor size but different MP. You can anticipate the Olympus E-PM2 to render greater detail using its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The older E-420 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PM2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PM2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PM2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography information
Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography information
56
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (10MP)
71
manual focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-PM2 as a Street photography camera
64
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (426g)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
79
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
has focus by touch
above average high ISO (25,600)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-PM2 as a Sports photography camera
38
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
max fps low (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (10MP)
low battery power (500 CIPA)
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography factors
Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography factors
52
lighter than competitors in class (426 grams)
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low battery power (500 per charge)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
66
has focus by touch
decent megapixels (16MP)
lack of Timelapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-420
Landscape photography with Olympus E-PM2
47
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
low battery power (500 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
74
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-420
Vlogging with Olympus E-PM2
9
can't record video
36
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone socket
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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PM2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Olympus E-PM2
 Olympus E-420Olympus PEN E-PM2
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-420 Olympus PEN E-PM2
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2008-06-23 2013-05-21
Physical type Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III -
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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 25600
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 35
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0fps 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1)
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 426g (0.94 lbs) 269g (0.59 lbs)
Physical 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 All around score 56 72
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 12.2
DXO Low light score 527 932
Other
Battery life 500 photos 360 photos
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
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Launch cost $999 $448