Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S5

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.

Photography Glossary

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.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus E-420 and Panasonic Lumix DC-S5. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus E-420 Gallery and Panasonic S5 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.