Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S1H

Here is a complete analysis of the Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S1H, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a significant difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and S1H (24MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and S1H (Full frame) provide different sensor size.

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The E-420 was announced 12 years prior to the S1H and that is a fairly sizable 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 S1H being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief summary of how the E-420 matches up versus the S1H in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus E-420 and Panasonic Lumix DC-S1H. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-420 Gallery and Panasonic S1H Gallery.

If you are planning to carry your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-420 features 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) while the Panasonic S1H has dimensions of 151mm x 114mm x 110mm (5.9" x 4.5" x 4.3") along with a weight of 1052 grams (2.32 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S1H in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the E-420 against the S1H.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-420 and S1H is 77 and 52 respectively.

In many cases, it is tough to imagine the gap in sensor sizing just by looking through technical specs. The photograph below will offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-420 and S1H.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-420 using its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field trickier and the Panasonic S1H will result in extra detail with its extra 14MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures more aggressively. The older E-420 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.