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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic G1

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 front
Portability
82
Imaging
46
Features
50
Overall
47

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic G1 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  • Superseded the Olympus E-410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 G1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 3200)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 360g - 124 x 84 x 45mm
  • Launched January 2009
  • Replacement is Panasonic G2
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic G1 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic G1, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-420 (10MP) and the G1 (12MP) is very comparable and they possess the same exact sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-420 was brought out 7 months earlier than the G1 and they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic G1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the E-420 matches up against the G1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Panasonic G1

 E-420 G1 

Reasons to pick Panasonic G1 over the Olympus E-420

 G1 E-420 
LaunchedJanuary 2009June 2008More modern by 7 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic G1

 E-420 G1 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic G1 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-420 features external dimensions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") along with a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Panasonic G1 has proportions of 124mm x 84mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 360 grams (0.79 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic G1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing at the time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the E-420 and the G1.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic G1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-420 and G1 is 77 and 82 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic G1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic G1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be tough to envision the difference in sensor sizes purely by seeing specs. The image underneath will provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-420 and G1.

All in all, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Panasonic G1 to show greater detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos far more aggressively. The more aged E-420 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic G1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic G1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic G1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic G1 Portrait photography factors
56
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
low MP (10 megapixels)
57
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography info
Panasonic G1 Street photography info
64
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
lighter than competition (426g)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
72
screen can move to multiple angles
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography details
Panasonic G1 Sports photography details
38
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
bad battery power (500 shots)
33
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
max fps low (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
no phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography advice
Panasonic G1 Travel photography advice
52
lighter than competition (426g)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse recording
bad battery power (500 per charge)
low MP (10MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
62
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
no Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic G1 as a Landscape photography camera
47
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.7")
does not have image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
bad battery power (500 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse recording
57
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging details
Panasonic G1 Vlogging details
9
no video recording
18
can't shoot video
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic G1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Panasonic G1
 Olympus E-420Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-420 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2008-06-23 2009-01-19
Body design Compact SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Maximum enhanced ISO - 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.50 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Maximum video resolution None None
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 426 gr (0.94 lb) 360 gr (0.79 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 124 x 84 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 53
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 21.1
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 10.3
DXO Low light score 527 463
Other
Battery life 500 pictures 330 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/MMC/SDHC card
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $999 $0