Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX78
77 Imaging
44 Features
36 Overall
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95 Imaging
35 Features
31 Overall
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX78 Key Specs
(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
(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
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.
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next monthThe 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.
Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX78 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-420 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-420 Gallery & Panasonic FX78 Gallery.
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 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | January 2011 | June 2008 | Fresher by 31 months | |
Display size | 3.5" | 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 type | Fixed | Fixed | Fixed display | |
Display resolution | 230k | 230k | Exact 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.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.
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 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 Screen and ViewFinder
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
Street Comparison
Sports Comparison
Travel Comparison
Landscape Comparison
Vlogging Comparison
Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX78 Specifications
Olympus E-420 | Panasonic 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 |