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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S1

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 front
Portability
54
Imaging
75
Features
84
Overall
78

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S1 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
  • Introduced June 2008
  • Old Model is Olympus E-410
Panasonic S1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Push to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 1021g - 149 x 110 x 97mm
  • Introduced February 2019
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S1 Overview

The following is a extended review of the Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S1, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and S1 (24MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and S1 (Full frame) provide totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-420 was launched 11 years earlier than the S1 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic S1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the E-420 grades vs the S1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Panasonic S1

 E-420 S1 

Reasons to pick Panasonic S1 over the Olympus E-420

 S1 E-420 
IntroducedFebruary 2019June 2008Newer by 129 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution2100k230kCrisper display (+1870k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic S1

 E-420 S1 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S1 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-420 has got physical 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 Panasonic S1 has proportions of 149mm x 110mm x 97mm (5.9" x 4.3" x 3.8") along with a weight of 1021 grams (2.25 lbs).

See the Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the E-420 vs the S1.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S1 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-420 and S1 is 77 and 54 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to see the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by viewing a spec sheet. The image here will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-420 and S1.

As you can see, both cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-420 due to its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF harder and the Panasonic S1 will provide you with extra detail utilizing its extra 14 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics more aggressively. The more aged E-420 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography features
Panasonic S1 Portrait photography features
56
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
MP count low (10MP)
85
has manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/320s)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
offers face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography highlights
Panasonic S1 Street photography highlights
64
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lighter than competition in class (426g)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
70
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
comes with touch focus
weather sealing
good high ISO (51,200)
heavier than others in class (1,021g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-420
Sports photography with Panasonic S1
38
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect auto focus
max fps very slow (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
bad battery (500 CIPA)
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shutter (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
weather sealing
terrible battery life (380 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography info
Panasonic S1 Travel photography info
52
lighter than competition in class (426 grams)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse function
bad battery (500 CIPA)
MP count low (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
59
weather sealing
connects via bluetooth
comes with touch focus
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
terrible battery life (380 shots)
heavier than others in class (1,021 grams)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic S1 Landscape photography factors
47
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is small (2.7")
no image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
bad battery (500 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
81
has manual focus
swap lenses (Leica L mount)
screen is a decent size (3.2 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
doesnt have low pass filter
good high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
has dual storage slots
terrible battery life (380 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging info
Panasonic S1 Vlogging info
9
no video recording
32
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does have external mic jack
does not have selfie friendly screen
heavier than others in class (1,021g)
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Panasonic S1
 Olympus E-420Panasonic Lumix DC-S1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-420 Panasonic Lumix DC-S1
Category Entry-Level DSLR Pro Mirrorless
Introduced 2008-06-23 2019-02-01
Body design Compact SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 1600 51200
Highest enhanced ISO - 204800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Minimum enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 3 225
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Leica L
Amount of lenses 45 30
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3.2 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 2,100 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 5,760 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.78x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per second 9.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync w/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/320 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution None 3840x2160
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264, H.265
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes (can be charged with high-power laptop/tablet chargers or portable power banks)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 426g (0.94 lb) 1021g (2.25 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 149 x 110 x 97mm (5.9" x 4.3" x 3.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 95
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 25.2
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 14.5
DXO Low light score 527 3333
Other
Battery life 500 photographs 380 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card -
Storage slots One 2
Price at release $999 $2,498