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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FH8

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FH8 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
  • Superseded the Olympus E-410
Panasonic FH8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-6.4) lens
  • 123g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2012
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FH8 Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FH8, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a substantial gap between the image resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and FH8 (16MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and FH8 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-420 was manufactured 4 years prior to the FH8 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic FH8 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a detailed comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the E-420 scores against the FH8 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Panasonic FH8

 E-420 FH8 
Focus manually Very exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH8 over the Olympus E-420

 FH8 E-420 
IntroducedJanuary 2012June 2008More modern by 43 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic FH8

 E-420 FH8 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FH8 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-420 comes with outside dimensions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") having a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Panasonic FH8 has sizing of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 123 grams (0.27 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FH8 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-420 versus the FH8.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FH8 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-420 and FH8 is 77 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FH8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FH8 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to see the contrast between sensor sizes simply by looking at technical specs. The picture here might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-420 and FH8.

As you have seen, both the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-420 due to its bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh simpler and the Panasonic FH8 will resolve extra detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots much more aggressively. The more aged E-420 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FH8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FH8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FH8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography info
Panasonic FH8 Portrait photography info
56
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
34
MP count good (16MP)
supports face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography info
Panasonic FH8 Street photography info
64
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lighter than others (426 grams)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (123 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-420
Sports photography with Panasonic FH8
38
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
not so great battery pack (500 shots)
40
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FH8 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than others (426g)
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
not so great battery pack (500 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than competition (123 grams)
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic FH8 Landscape photography highlights
47
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inches)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (500 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
43
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.5)
manual mode not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FH8 as a Vlogging camera
9
lack of video recording
33
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
lighter than competition (123 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f2.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic jack
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FH8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Panasonic FH8
 Olympus E-420Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-420 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2008-06-23 2012-01-09
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.5-6.4
Macro focusing range - 4cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 8s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.60 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
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) 123 grams (0.27 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
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 pictures 260 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $999 $149