Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FP5

In this article, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FP5, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Ultracompact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a large gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and FP5 (14MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and FP5 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The E-420 was manufactured 3 years prior to the FP5 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic FP5 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the E-420 matches up versus the FP5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus E-420 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus E-420 Gallery & Panasonic FP5 Gallery.

For those who are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-420 provides exterior measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") accompanied by a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Panasonic FP5 has specifications of 101mm x 59mm x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") with a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FP5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose during that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the E-420 versus the FP5.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-420 and FP5 is 77 and 95 respectively.

Sometimes, its tough to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions just by researching a spec sheet. The pic underneath will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-420 and FP5.

As you can see, each of the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-420 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic FP5 will provide you with greater detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop shots far more aggressively. The more aged E-420 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.