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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SH-50

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Olympus SH-50 front
Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SH-50 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
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-410
Olympus SH-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 269g - 112 x 63 x 42mm
  • Announced January 2013
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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SH-50 Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SH-50, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both created by Olympus. There is a big difference between the image resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and SH-50 (16MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and SH-50 (1/2.3") possess different sensor dimensions.

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The E-420 was manufactured 5 years before the SH-50 and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus SH-50 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a in depth comparison, below is a quick view of how the E-420 grades versus the SH-50 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Olympus SH-50

 E-420 SH-50 

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-50 over the Olympus E-420

 SH-50 E-420 
AnnouncedJanuary 2013June 2008More recent by 55 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Olympus SH-50

 E-420 SH-50 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SH-50 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-420 comes with physical 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 SH-50 has specifications of 112mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SH-50 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the E-420 versus the SH-50.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SH-50 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-420 and SH-50 is 77 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SH-50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SH-50 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements merely by checking technical specs. The photograph here will provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-420 and SH-50.

As you have seen, each of the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-420 because of its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Olympus SH-50 will resolve extra detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The older E-420 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SH-50 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SH-50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SH-50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-420
Portrait photography with Olympus SH-50
56
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
44
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
provides face detect focusing
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-420
Street photography with Olympus SH-50
64
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition (426 grams)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has touch to focus
lighter than competition in class (269g)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography info
Olympus SH-50 Sports photography info
38
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
max fps low (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
terrible battery (500 per charge)
48
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-420
Travel photography with Olympus SH-50
52
lighter than competition (426 grams)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
terrible battery (500 shots)
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than competition in class (269g)
has touch to focus
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
does not feature selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus SH-50 as a Landscape photography camera
47
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7")
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
terrible battery (500 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
49
focusing manually
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus SH-50 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video
34
relatively wide (25mm)
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (269 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not feature selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone port
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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SH-50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Olympus SH-50
 Olympus E-420Olympus SH-50
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-420 Olympus SH-50
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2008-06-23 2013-01-08
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III TruePic VI
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 15s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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 lb) 269g (0.59 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 112 x 63 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 527 not tested
Other
Battery life 500 images -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID - SLB-10A
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $999 $300