Olympus E-420 vs Olympus 8000

Following is a comprehensive comparison of the Olympus E-420 vs Olympus 8000, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are offered by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-420 (10MP) and the 8000 (12MP) is fairly comparable but the E-420 (Four Thirds) and 8000 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The E-420 was manufactured 12 months earlier than the 8000 and they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus 8000 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief overview of how the E-420 matches up versus the 8000 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-420 and Olympus Stylus Tough 8000. The entire galleries are available at Olympus E-420 Gallery and Olympus 8000 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-420 enjoys outer dimensions 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 8000 has measurements of 95mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 182 grams (0.40 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-420 vs Olympus 8000 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the E-420 versus the 8000.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-420 and 8000 is 77 and 94 respectively.

More often than not, it can be hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes just by seeing technical specs. The picture below will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-420 and 8000.

As you can tell, both cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-420 featuring a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Olympus 8000 will show greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-420 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.