Olympus E-420 vs Olympus TG-870

Below, we are comparing the Olympus E-420 vs Olympus TG-870, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Ultracompact and they are both offered by Olympus. There is a sizeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and TG-870 (16MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and TG-870 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The E-420 was manufactured 8 years prior to the TG-870 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-420 matches up versus the TG-870 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-420 and Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870. The entire galleries are available at Olympus E-420 Gallery and Olympus TG-870 Gallery.

For those who are intending to carry around your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-420 enjoys external 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 TG-870 has proportions of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") with a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs).

See the Olympus E-420 vs Olympus TG-870 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-420 compared to the TG-870.

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-420 and TG-870 is 77 and 91 respectively.

Often, it can be difficult to see the difference between sensor sizes simply by looking at technical specs. The picture underneath should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-420 and TG-870.

As you can tell, both of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-420 due to its larger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Olympus TG-870 will give you more detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos much more aggressively. The more aged E-420 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.