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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S5

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
76
Features
92
Overall
82

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S5 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
  • Announced June 2008
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-410
Panasonic S5
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.0" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Bump to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 714g - 133 x 97 x 82mm
  • Launched August 2020
  • New Model is Panasonic S5 II
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S5 Overview

Below, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S5, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a big difference among the image resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and S5 (24MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and S5 (Full frame) possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-420 was released 13 years prior to the S5 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic S5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the E-420 matches up against the S5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Panasonic S5

 E-420 S5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic S5 over the Olympus E-420

 S5 E-420 
LaunchedAugust 2020June 2008Newer by 147 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimension3.0"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1840k230kClearer screen (+1610k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic S5

 E-420 S5 
Focus manually More accurate focusing

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S5 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to travel with your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-420 features 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) and the Panasonic S5 has proportions of 133mm x 97mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2") along with a weight of 714 grams (1.57 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the E-420 vs the S5.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S5 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-420 and S5 is 77 and 60 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S5 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to see the difference in sensor dimensions just by researching specifications. The picture here will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-420 and S5.

Plainly, the 2 cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-420 due to its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF tougher and the Panasonic S5 will result in extra detail as a result of its extra 14MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-420 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic S5 Portrait photography advice
56
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
low MP (10MP)
85
focusing manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
features face detect focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography factors
Panasonic S5 Street photography factors
64
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
lighter than competition (426 grams)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
78
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW files
has touch focus
weather proof
above average high ISO (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography features
Panasonic S5 Sports photography features
38
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect AF
slow frames per second (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
low battery power (500 shots)
81
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet shutter (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
features tracking focus
weather proof
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography factors
Panasonic S5 Travel photography factors
52
lighter than competition (426 grams)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
low battery power (500 shots)
low MP (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
79
weather proof
connects via bluetooth
has touch focus
good resolution (24 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-420
Landscape photography with Panasonic S5
47
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
low battery power (500 shots)
does not have Time Lapse function
86
focusing manually
switch lenses (Leica L mount)
screen size is good (3.0 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
no anti aliasing filter
above average high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW files
weather proof
two card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging details
Panasonic S5 Vlogging details
9
lack of video recording
79
selfie friendly screen
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
has mic socket
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Panasonic S5
 Olympus E-420Panasonic Lumix DC-S5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-420 Panasonic Lumix DC-S5
Category Entry-Level DSLR Pro Mirrorless
Announced 2008-06-23 2020-08-14
Physical type Compact SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 1600 51200
Highest boosted ISO - 204800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Minimum boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 3 225
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Leica L
Total lenses 45 31
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 2.7 inch 3.0 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 1,840 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.74x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed - 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash settings 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
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 secs 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 200 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution None 3840x2160
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264, H.265
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 426 grams (0.94 lbs) 714 grams (1.57 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 133 x 97 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2")
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 440 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, SDXC Memory Card
Card slots One Dual
Retail price $999 $1,999