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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX78

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX78 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
  • Released June 2008
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-410
Panasonic FX78
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 100 x 55 x 21mm
  • Released January 2011
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-FX77
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX78 Overview

Here, we are comparing the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic FX78, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-420 (10MP) and the FX78 (12MP) is fairly similar but the E-420 (Four Thirds) and FX78 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-420 was announced 3 years earlier than the FX78 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic FX78 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a detailed comparison, here is a short summary of how the E-420 scores vs the FX78 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Panasonic FX78

 E-420 FX78 
Manually focus More accurate focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX78 over the Olympus E-420

 FX78 E-420 
ReleasedJanuary 2011June 2008Fresher by 31 months
Display size3.5"2.7"Larger display (+0.8")
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic FX78

 E-420 FX78 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX78 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-420 features physical measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") with a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Panasonic FX78 has dimensions of 100mm x 55mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") along with a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic FX78 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the E-420 versus the FX78.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX78 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-420 and FX78 is 77 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX78 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX78 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to see the contrast between sensor sizing just by reviewing specs. The visual underneath will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-420 and FX78.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-420 having a larger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic FX78 will offer extra detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos way more aggressively. The older E-420 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX78 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX78 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX78 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography details
Panasonic FX78 Portrait photography details
56
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (10MP)
21
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
low resolution (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FX78 as a Street photography camera
64
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lighter than others (426g)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography advice
Panasonic FX78 Sports photography advice
38
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has phase detect autofocus
slow fps (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
bad battery power (500 shots)
28
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking focus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,400s)
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery (200 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-420
Travel photography with Panasonic FX78
52
lighter than others (426g)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
bad battery power (500 per charge)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
56
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
not so great battery (200 per charge)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-420
Landscape photography with Panasonic FX78
47
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inch)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
bad battery power (500 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
36
relatively wide (24mm)
screen larger than average (3.5 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
lack of manual mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
not so great battery (200 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging details
Panasonic FX78 Vlogging details
9
can't shoot video
33
relatively wide (24mm)
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Optical)
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have microphone port
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX78 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Panasonic FX78
 Olympus E-420Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-420 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78
Alternate name - Lumix DMC-FX77
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Released 2008-06-23 2011-01-25
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.5-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 3.5 inch
Resolution of display 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1400 secs
Continuous shooting speed 4.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 426g (0.94 pounds) 142g (0.31 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 100 x 55 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 527 not tested
Other
Battery life 500 pictures 200 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack 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/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $999 $210