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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SZ-11

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Olympus SZ-11 front
Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SZ-11 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
  • Launched June 2008
  • Superseded the Olympus E-410
Olympus SZ-11
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Released July 2011
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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SZ-11 Overview

Here is a detailed assessment of the Olympus E-420 versus Olympus SZ-11, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both offered by Olympus. There is a sizable difference between the image resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and SZ-11 (14MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and SZ-11 (1/2.3") offer different sensor dimensions.

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The E-420 was brought out 4 years before the SZ-11 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus SZ-11 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the E-420 scores versus the SZ-11 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Olympus SZ-11

 E-420 SZ-11 
Focus manually More accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-11 over the Olympus E-420

 SZ-11 E-420 
ReleasedJuly 2011June 2008Fresher by 37 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Olympus SZ-11

 E-420 SZ-11 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SZ-11 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera regularly, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-420 has got outer dimensions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") and a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Olympus SZ-11 has measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-420 versus Olympus SZ-11 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have during that time. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the E-420 compared to the SZ-11.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SZ-11 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-420 and SZ-11 is 77 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SZ-11 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SZ-11 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizing purely by reading through a spec sheet. The visual underneath should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-420 and SZ-11.

As you can see, each of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-420 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Olympus SZ-11 will resolve greater detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older E-420 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SZ-11 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SZ-11 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SZ-11 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-420
Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-11
56
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (10MP)
33
decent megapixels (14MP)
has face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Street photography camera
Olympus SZ-11 as a Street photography camera
64
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lighter than average (426g)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography features
Olympus SZ-11 Sports photography features
38
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
bad battery (500 per charge)
43
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
low battery pack (200 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SZ-11 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than average (426 grams)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse mode
bad battery (500 shots)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
65
lighter than average in class (226g)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
very long zoom (500mm)
no Timelapse recording
low battery pack (200 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus SZ-11 as a Landscape photography camera
47
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is small (2.7")
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
bad battery (500 per charge)
missing Time Lapse mode
40
pretty wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
low battery pack (200 CIPA)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging factors
Olympus SZ-11 Vlogging factors
9
no video
31
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focusing
lighter than average in class (226g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone support
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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SZ-11 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Olympus SZ-11
 Olympus E-420Olympus SZ-11
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-420 Olympus SZ-11
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2008-06-23 2011-07-27
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III TruePic III+
Sensor type CMOS CCD
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 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 3 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 9.30 m (@ ISO 1600)
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 426 gr (0.94 lbs) 226 gr (0.50 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 527 not tested
Other
Battery life 500 photographs 200 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - LI-50B
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
Launch pricing $999 $253