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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX580

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
29
Overall
32

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX580 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
  • Revealed June 2008
  • Older Model is Olympus E-410
Panasonic FX580
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 167g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Introduced January 2009
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FX550
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX580 Overview

In this article, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-420 versus Panasonic FX580, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-420 (10MP) and the FX580 (12MP) is relatively close but the E-420 (Four Thirds) and FX580 (1/2.3") use different sensor size.

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The E-420 was launched 7 months before the FX580 which means that they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic FX580 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a thorough comparison, below is a brief summation of how the E-420 matches up versus the FX580 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Panasonic FX580

 E-420 FX580 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX580 over the Olympus E-420

 FX580 E-420 
IntroducedJanuary 2009June 2008Fresher by 7 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic FX580

 E-420 FX580 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX580 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-420 offers outer 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) while the Panasonic FX580 has specifications of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-420 versus Panasonic FX580 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the E-420 and the FX580.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX580 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-420 and FX580 is 77 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX580 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX580 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its hard to picture the gap in sensor sizing only by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic underneath might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-420 and FX580.

As you can see, both the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-420 due to its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Panasonic FX580 will render more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots a little more aggressively. The older E-420 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX580 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX580 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography details
Panasonic FX580 Portrait photography details
56
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low resolution (10 megapixels)
26
comes with face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography highlights
Panasonic FX580 Street photography highlights
64
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (426 grams)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FX580 as a Sports photography camera
38
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
low frames per second (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low resolution (10MP)
not so great battery power (500 CIPA)
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (2.0 fps)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography information
Panasonic FX580 Travel photography information
52
lighter than competition in class (426g)
flash built-in
missing Timelapse recording
not so great battery power (500 shots)
low resolution (10MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
58
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
MP count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FX580 as a Landscape photography camera
47
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inches)
no image stabilization
low resolution (10MP)
not so great battery power (500 per charge)
missing Timelapse recording
36
fairly wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not possible
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging features
Panasonic FX580 Vlogging features
9
no video shooting
30
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic support
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Panasonic FX580
 Olympus E-420Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-420 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580
Also called as - Lumix DMC-FX550
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2008-06-23 2009-01-27
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-125mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 426 grams (0.94 pounds) 167 grams (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $999 $499