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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX90

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
34
Overall
34

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX90 Key Specs

Olympus E-420
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 426g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Revealed June 2008
  • Replaced the Olympus E-410
Panasonic FX90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-5.9) lens
  • 149g - 102 x 56 x 22mm
  • Introduced August 2011
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX90 Overview

The following is a complete overview of the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic FX90, one is 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 FX90 (12MP) is relatively close but the E-420 (Four Thirds) and FX90 (1/2.3") have different sensor dimensions.

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The E-420 was released 4 years before the FX90 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic FX90 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a complete comparison, here is a short highlight of how the E-420 matches up vs the FX90 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Panasonic FX90

 E-420 FX90 
Focus manually Very precise focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX90 over the Olympus E-420

 FX90 E-420 
IntroducedAugust 2011June 2008Newer by 38 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic FX90

 E-420 FX90 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX90 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-420 has exterior 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 FX90 has specifications of 102mm x 56mm x 22mm (4.0" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 149 grams (0.33 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic FX90 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the E-420 against the FX90.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX90 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-420 and FX90 is 77 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX90 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX90 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to imagine the difference in sensor dimensions merely by viewing a spec sheet. The picture below will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-420 and FX90.

Clearly, both of those cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-420 because of its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Panasonic FX90 will provide you with greater detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-420 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX90 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX90 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography information
Panasonic FX90 Portrait photography information
56
you can focus manually
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
low MP (10 megapixels)
21
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FX90 as a Street photography camera
64
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competition (426g)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
features touch to focus
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography details
Panasonic FX90 Sports photography details
38
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
not so great battery pack (500 shots)
30
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery (200 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FX90 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than competition (426 grams)
flash built-in
no Timelapse function
not so great battery pack (500 shots)
low MP (10MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
60
features touch to focus
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
missing Timelapse mode
terrible battery (200 shots)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.5)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-420
Landscape photography with Panasonic FX90
47
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inches)
no image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
not so great battery pack (500 CIPA)
no Timelapse function
36
rather wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.5)
no manual control
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
terrible battery (200 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-420
Vlogging with Panasonic FX90
9
no video recording
33
rather wide (24mm)
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f2.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone jack
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FX90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Panasonic FX90
 Olympus E-420Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-420 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2008-06-23 2011-08-26
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III -
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 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.5-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.90 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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) 149 grams (0.33 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 102 x 56 x 22mm (4.0" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 photos 200 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $999 $227