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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic 3D1

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
36
Overall
36

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic 3D1 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
  • Released June 2008
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-410
Panasonic 3D1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F3.9-5.7) lens
  • 193g - 108 x 58 x 24mm
  • Revealed November 2011
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic 3D1 Overview

Here is a in depth overview of the Olympus E-420 versus Panasonic 3D1, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-420 (10MP) and the 3D1 (12MP) is fairly similar but the E-420 (Four Thirds) and 3D1 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-420 was introduced 4 years prior to the 3D1 and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic 3D1 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a thorough comparison, here is a short view of how the E-420 scores against the 3D1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Panasonic 3D1

 E-420 3D1 
Focus manually Dial precise focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic 3D1 over the Olympus E-420

 3D1 E-420 
RevealedNovember 2011June 2008Fresher by 41 months
Display size3.5"2.7"Larger display (+0.8")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic 3D1

 E-420 3D1 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic 3D1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-420 provides outer dimensions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") with a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Panasonic 3D1 has specifications of 108mm x 58mm x 24mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 0.9") along with a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-420 versus Panasonic 3D1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached during that time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the E-420 and the 3D1.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic 3D1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-420 and 3D1 is 77 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic 3D1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic 3D1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very hard to see the contrast between sensor sizing just by reading specifications. The graphic underneath will give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-420 and 3D1.

Plainly, both the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-420 using its larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Panasonic 3D1 will offer you greater detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images way more aggressively. The older E-420 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic 3D1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic 3D1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic 3D1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic 3D1 Portrait photography highlights
56
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (10MP)
27
offers face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-420
Street photography with Panasonic 3D1
64
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (426g)
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes touch focus
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography information
Panasonic 3D1 Sports photography information
38
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
terrible battery power (500 CIPA)
30
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking autofocus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,300 seconds)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery (200 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography information
Panasonic 3D1 Travel photography information
52
lighter than competition in class (426 grams)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse recording
terrible battery power (500 shots)
low megapixels (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
59
includes touch focus
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
does not have Timelapse function
low battery (200 shots)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-420
Landscape photography with Panasonic 3D1
47
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
terrible battery power (500 shots)
missing Time Lapse recording
36
pretty wide (25mm)
big screen (3.5 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
no manual control
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
low battery (200 shots)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic 3D1 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video shooting
34
pretty wide (25mm)
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone port
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic 3D1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Panasonic 3D1
 Olympus E-420Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-420 Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Released 2008-06-23 2011-11-07
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.9-5.7
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3.5"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - TFT Full Touch Screen with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1300 secs
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 426 grams (0.94 pounds) 193 grams (0.43 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 108 x 58 x 24mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 527 not tested
Other
Battery life 500 images 200 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $999 $670