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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SZ-15

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Olympus SZ-15 front
Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SZ-15 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
  • Superseded the Olympus E-410
Olympus SZ-15
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-483mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 250g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Introduced June 2013
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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SZ-15 Overview

Here is a complete comparison of the Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SZ-15, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are sold by Olympus. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and SZ-15 (16MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and SZ-15 (1/2.3") feature different sensor size.

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The E-420 was manufactured 6 years prior to the SZ-15 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus SZ-15 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a simple overview of how the E-420 scores vs the SZ-15 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Olympus SZ-15

 E-420 SZ-15 

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-15 over the Olympus E-420

 SZ-15 E-420 
IntroducedJune 2013June 2008Fresher by 60 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Olympus SZ-15

 E-420 SZ-15 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SZ-15 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera, you need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-420 features outside dimensions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") along with a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Olympus SZ-15 has proportions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") having a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SZ-15 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the E-420 and the SZ-15.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SZ-15 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-420 and SZ-15 is 77 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SZ-15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SZ-15 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to picture the contrast between sensor sizing only by looking at specifications. The visual here should provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-420 and SZ-15.

Plainly, each of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-420 featuring a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF easier and the Olympus SZ-15 will give you greater detail due to its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images far more aggressively. The older E-420 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SZ-15 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SZ-15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SZ-15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus SZ-15 Portrait photography highlights
56
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
low megapixels (10MP)
44
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
includes face detection focusing
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography details
Olympus SZ-15 Street photography details
64
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
lighter than others in class (426 grams)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (250g)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography information
Olympus SZ-15 Sports photography information
38
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
low battery power (500 CIPA)
53
incredible zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography advice
Olympus SZ-15 Travel photography advice
52
lighter than others in class (426 grams)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
low battery power (500 shots)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
68
lighter than average in class (250g)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (23mm)
great zoom (483mm)
lack of Timelapse function
doesn't have selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 Landscape photography info
Olympus SZ-15 Landscape photography info
47
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
low battery power (500 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
49
focusing manually
quite wide (23mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging information
Olympus SZ-15 Vlogging information
9
can't record video
34
quite wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (250g)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone port
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Olympus E-420 vs Olympus SZ-15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Olympus SZ-15
 Olympus E-420Olympus SZ-15
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-420 Olympus SZ-15
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2008-06-23 2013-06-21
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip 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 surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 3 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 23-483mm (21.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 4.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.50 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - AVI MPEG4, Motion JPEG
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 426 gr (0.94 pounds) 250 gr (0.55 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 pictures -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model - SLB-10A
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $999 $200