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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FZ100

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 front
Portability
67
Imaging
37
Features
62
Overall
47

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FZ100 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
  • Announced June 2008
  • Superseded the Olympus E-410
Panasonic FZ100
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 540g - 124 x 82 x 92mm
  • Released July 2010
  • Refreshed by Panasonic FZ200
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FZ100 Overview

Here, we will be looking at the Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FZ100, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a crucial gap among the resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and FZ100 (14MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and FZ100 (1/2.3") provide different sensor measurements.

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The E-420 was released 3 years earlier than the FZ100 and that is a fairly serious 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 FZ100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the E-420 scores vs the FZ100 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Panasonic FZ100

 E-420 FZ100 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ100 over the Olympus E-420

 FZ100 E-420 
ReleasedJuly 2010June 2008Fresher by 25 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic FZ100

 E-420 FZ100 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FZ100 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-420 enjoys exterior measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") along with a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FZ100 has measurements of 124mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6") along with a weight of 540 grams (1.19 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FZ100 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have at that moment. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the E-420 compared to the FZ100.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FZ100 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-420 and FZ100 is 77 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FZ100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FZ100 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizing purely by viewing a spec sheet. The photograph below should give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-420 and FZ100.

Clearly, both of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-420 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Panasonic FZ100 will render extra detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots way more aggressively. The older E-420 will be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FZ100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FZ100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FZ100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography features
Panasonic FZ100 Portrait photography features
56
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
MP count low (10 megapixels)
54
manual focus
MP count decent (14MP)
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-420
Street photography with Panasonic FZ100
64
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lighter than competitors (426g)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
58
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
more heavy than average (540 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography advice
Panasonic FZ100 Sports photography advice
38
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect AF
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
terrible battery pack (500 CIPA)
51
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
has tracking focus
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FZ100 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than competitors (426 grams)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse function
terrible battery pack (500 shots)
MP count low (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
59
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
really wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than average (540 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 Landscape photography details
Panasonic FZ100 Landscape photography details
47
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
terrible battery pack (500 shots)
no Time Lapse function
51
manual focus
really wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
saves RAW formats
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging factors
Panasonic FZ100 Vlogging factors
9
can't record video
64
really wide (25mm)
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has microphone port
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
more heavy than average (540g)
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FZ100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Panasonic FZ100
 Olympus E-420Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-420 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2008-06-23 2010-07-21
Body design Compact SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 3 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-5.2
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0fps 11.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 9.50 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 426 grams (0.94 lbs) 540 grams (1.19 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 124 x 82 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6")
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 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch price $999 $500