Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF6: An Expert Comparison for Discerning Photographers

In the ever-evolving world of digital cameras, choices abound, even within specialized niches like the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) system. Today, I’m taking a deep dive into two entry-level MFT contenders from different generations and design philosophies: the Olympus E-420, a compact DSLR from 2008, and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF6, a more modern mirrorless rangefinder-style camera from 2013.

Both cameras target enthusiasts stepping up their photography but come armed with quite different strengths and compromises. Having extensively tested both models over the years, I want to share firsthand experience combined with thorough technical analysis, covering everything from sensor characteristics and autofocus to ergonomics and real-world usage in diverse photographic scenarios.

Let’s unpack how these two cameras stack up, and more importantly - how that translates into practical value for portrait, landscape, sports, and niche photography needs.

Holding Them in Your Hands: Size, Ergonomics, and Design Philosophy

Understanding a camera’s physical presence is crucial. A device that feels intuitive and comfortable significantly influences shooting enjoyment.

The Olympus E-420 is a compact DSLR with a classic design, housing an optical pentamirror viewfinder and a small but functional 2.7-inch fixed LCD. Meanwhile, the Panasonic GF6 embraces the mirrorless rangefinder aesthetic, resulting in a noticeably smaller and lighter package without a viewfinder, but featuring a 3-inch tilting capacitive touchscreen.

Compare their dimensions and weight below:

Olympus’ dimensions (130x91x53 mm, 426g) suggest a fuller grip and more traditional DSLR handling. Meanwhile, the Panasonic’s smaller size (111x65x38 mm, 323g) makes it easier to slip into a jacket pocket or casual bag, suiting travelers or street photographers who prioritize portability.

From an ergonomic standpoint: The E-420’s body is plasticky but solid, and while its grip doesn’t rival larger DSLRs, it offers a reassuring hold with dedicated buttons for exposure modes, ISO, and drive settings. The GF6 leans heavily on touchscreen operation, which some find faster but others find fiddly - especially when wearing gloves or outdoors in bright sunlight.

I have to confess, the GF6’s tilting screen is a joy for overhead or low-angle shooting, something the fixed screen on the E-420 can’t match. But if you’re someone who prefers an optical viewfinder (that natural eye contact and no-lag framing), the E-420 will immediately appeal.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Resolution Meets Dynamic Range

Both cameras utilize a Four Thirds sensor with identical dimensions (17.3 x 13 mm), but their cores couldn’t be more different in generation and specifications:

• The Olympus E-420 sports a 10-megapixel CMOS sensor paired with the (at the time) cutting-edge TruePic III processor.
• The Panasonic GF6 uses a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor backed by the Venus Engine FHD processor, enabling higher native ISO and improved noise handling.

How does this translate into the quality you’ll see in your photos?

Using DXOMark scores as a baseline (not gospel, but a useful objective reference), the E-420 achieves an overall score of 56 with color depth at 21.5 bits, dynamic range around 10.4 EV, and a low-light ISO score of 527 ISO equivalent. The GF6 scores slightly lower overall at 54 but offers a color depth of 20.7 bits, slightly better dynamic range at 10.6 EV, and improved low-light ISO of 622 ISO equivalence.

What does that mean practically?

• The E-420 captures slightly richer colors due to its marginally higher color depth. If accurate skin tones are a priority (think portrait photography/reproduction fidelity), this is a subtle advantage.
• However, the GF6’s sensor and processor combination handle shadows and highlight retention a bit better, evidenced by the wider dynamic range.
• In low-light conditions, the GF6’s higher native max ISO (up to 12800) and boosted ISO up to 25600 give it an edge, though noise control at boosted ISOs is understandably limited.

In my hands-on shooting tests (see the sample gallery below), both cameras produce pleasing images at ISO 100-400. Push beyond ISO 800, and the GF6’s modern sensor separates itself with noticeably less noise and punchier details, especially for night or indoor shooting.

Olympus E 420 screen back Panasonic GF6 front Panasonic GF6 screen back

Autofocus and Performance: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Autofocus can be make-or-break, particularly in genres like wildlife, sports, and street photography, where split-second focus can be the difference between a keeper and a miss.

The Olympus E-420 offers a hybrid AF system: a combination of contrast- and phase-detection with only 3 focus points available, focusing modes including single, continuous, and selective AF. However, the AF system is sluggish by modern standards. It tends to hunt, especially in low light or lower contrast scenes, and aggressive subject tracking is absent.

Contrast this with the Panasonic GF6, which, while relying purely on contrast-detection AF (no phase detection), adds face detection and AF tracking, helping it lock onto subjects more reliably in live view. The GF6 also supports continuous AF during bursts.

Briefly summarizing autofocus performance:

• The E-420’s AF is precise but slow, making it challenging to capture sharp images of fast-moving subjects or fleeting expressions.
• The GF6 is more agile, with quicker acquisition and tracking in daylight conditions, but like all contrast-detection systems, it can struggle in dim lighting or on complex patterns.

Burst-wise, both cameras cap out around the same 4 fps, which is modest but suitable for casual sports or wildlife shooters. The E-420 feels more limited due to buffer and slower write speeds on Compact Flash storage.

Handling and Interface: Control Layout and Usability

Lighting conditions and your shooting environment demand swift, intuitive controls.

Here’s the top-view comparison of control layouts:

The Olympus keeps its DSLR roots visible, with physical dials for exposure compensation, shutter speed, and aperture (accessible in manual and aperture priority modes). Custom white balance and flash compensation are easily accessible.

The Panasonic GF6 instead assumes a touchscreen-centric approach, relegating fewer buttons on top. While this lowers the learning curve for beginners comfortable with smartphones, it slows pro-level compensations if you rely on tactile controls.

What about the rear interface?

The GF6’s 3-inch, 1040k-dot tilting touchscreen with wide viewing angles is a standout feature here. You can tap to focus, scroll menus, and swipe through images. The E-420’s fixed 2.7-inch LCD with 230k dots is serviceable but visually cramped.

Ergonomically, my preference leans to the E-420 for controlled shooting - less prone to accidental touches - but to the GF6 for casual, creative flexibility.

Lens Selection and System Compatibility

Both cameras share the Micro Four Thirds mount - an industry standard with numerous third-party and manufacturer lenses available.

• The E-420 era MFT lenses numbered about 45 choices primarily from Olympus, Panasonic, and the occasional partner brand.
• By the release of the GF6, that lens count expanded to over 100, including specialized macro, telephoto, and fast primes.

MFT’s hallmark: compact, lightweight lenses with excellent optical quality. This means you can mix and match and still benefit from the lightweight form factor.

Given that both bodies use identical mounts, anyone invested in Olympus lenses will find the GF6 fully compatible and vice versa. The GF6 also supports newer lenses with faster focusing motors, enhancing AF speed beyond the E-420’s original capabilities.

Stability, Flash, and Battery Life Considerations

Neither the E-420 nor the GF6 offers in-body image stabilization (IBIS), so you must depend on stabilized lenses to reduce camera shake.

Flash-wise:

• The E-420 has a built-in flash with a reach of about 12 meters at ISO 100 and supports external flash units with more versatile manual control.
• The GF6 features a smaller built-in unit (6.3 meters range) and no hot shoe for external flashes - a significant limitation if you rely on advanced lighting setups.

Battery life tips the scales in Olympus’ favor, rated at 500 shots per charge compared to the GF6’s 340. Reviewing and live-view-heavy shooting on the GF6’s large touchscreen usually shortens its endurance in real terms.

Between their different storage media, the E-420 uses the older, bulkier Compact Flash or xD Picture Card while the GF6 accepts industry-standard SD/SDHC/SDXC cards which are faster, cheaper, and more universally supported.

Versatility Across Key Photography Genres

Let’s evaluate how these cameras perform in common photographic contexts:

Portrait Photography

The E-420’s faithful color rendition and respectable dynamic range serve skin tones well. However, the only 3 AF points and lack of face detection require more manual focus finesse. The GF6’s face detection and higher resolution sensor provide more pixel-level detail, with smoother autofocus acquisition for sharp eyes. I recommend the GF6 if you intend to shoot lots of portraits and friends in casual settings.

Landscape Photography

Landscape shooters will appreciate the GF6’s 16MP resolution for sizable prints and cropping flexibility, paired with its better low ISO noise and wider dynamic range in shadows. The tilting LCD aids composition from uneven angles. However, the E-420’s good DR and use of external flashes (for fill or HDR techniques) could make it a balanced choice for creative lighting.

Wildlife and Sports

Neither camera excels in hardcore high-speed action. The E-420’s slower AF and limited burst rates aren’t suitable for serious tracking. The GF6 is slightly better due to face detection and AF tracking but lacks an electronic viewfinder - which complicates framing fast erratic subjects outdoors in bright light. Professional wildlife photographers will prefer more modern mirrorless or DSLR bodies with phase-detection AF, but beginner wildlife hobbyists could get by with the GF6 combined with a good telephoto lens.

Street Photography

For the discreet, the GF6 is your friend given its smaller size, lighter weight, and quiet operation (no DSLR mirror to snap). The tilting touchscreen lets you shoot from hip level unnoticed. The E-420’s optical viewfinder can slow you down and draws more attention from subjects. The GF6 is the go-to here.

Macro Photography

While neither camera boasts specialized macro features like focus stacking or high magnification, the GF6’s higher resolution sensor helps capture fine detail at close distances. Plus, the wide lens ecosystem includes some excellent macro lenses. With stabilization needing to come from lenses, handheld macro shots are easier with the GF6’s better low-light ISO performance.

Night and Astrophotography

The GF6’s extended ISO range and modern processor enable cleaner night shots, though noise becomes evident beyond ISO 1600. The E-420’s lower ISO ceiling limits low-light exposure options. Neither camera offers bulb mode or extended exposure settings commonly used in astrophotography, limiting their usefulness here. Astrophotographers will likely look elsewhere.

Video Capabilities

Here, the GF6 clearly wins: 1080p video at 30fps with options for AVCHD and MPEG-4 recording formats. It also offers smooth contrast-detection autofocus during video and HDMI output for external monitors. The E-420 does not have video recording abilities - an outright dealbreaker if video is a goal.

Travel Photography

Combining image quality, weight, size, and battery life, the GF6 appeals for casual travel shooters prioritizing easy carry, Wi-Fi connectivity, and instant sharing via NFC. The E-420, though bulkier and older tech, offers longer battery life and the reassurance of a built-in optical finder, useful in bright outdoor light.

Reliability, Professional Use, and Workflow Integration

Both cameras lack weather sealing or ruggedized bodies, limiting professional robustness outdoors. They are designed primarily for entry-level enthusiasts and casual prosumers.

In professional workflows, the E-420’s native RAW support, coupled with established Olympus color profiles, integrates smoothly with older post-processing pipelines. The GF6’s RAW files offer greater resolution for cropping but require more modern software to exploit dynamic range.

Connectivity favours Panasonic’s mirrorless giving wireless transfer, NFC pairing, and HDMI output for tethered shooting; Olympus offers USB 2.0 only, a bit limiting today.

Summarizing Strengths and Weaknesses

Who Should Buy Which?

• Choose the Olympus E-420 if you cherish an optical viewfinder, prefer tangible physical controls, and want a camera that handles still photography reliably with faithful colors. It's an accessible DSLR introduction for people comfortable with traditional shooting styles, not inclined towards video or fast action but happy with slower paced photography like portraits, landscapes, or studio work.

• Choose the Panasonic GF6 if your priorities include video recording, a more compact body for travel or street work, touchscreen versatility, and modern connectivity options. Its AF and sensor upgrades make it a better fit for casual wildlife or sports, candid portraits, and digitally savvy users who appreciate integrated sharing and apps.

Final Ratings and Photography Discipline Scores

To bring the assessment full-circle, here are my consolidated performance scores, reflecting long-term hands-on experience, image quality, usability, and feature set:

And a breakdown by photography types:

Closing Thoughts

Both the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic GF6 represent important evolutionary steps in the Micro Four Thirds lineage, reflecting changes in user expectations and technology from 2008 to 2013. The Olympus offers classic DSLR charm with solid imaging fundamentals, while the Panasonic embodies the emerging trend of compact mirrorless cameras packed with convenience features.

If you're weighing these cameras today, factor in whether the tactile viewfinder experience and longer battery life are worth the trade-offs in AF speed and video capability. Conversely, if video, portability, and rapid AF matter more, the GF6 is a well-rounded package, especially considering its more budget-friendly pricing on the used market.

Ultimately, dive into the camera that feels right in your hands and fits your workflow - and remember, great photographs come as much from your vision as your gear.

Happy shooting!

Note: All images, specs and experiences mentioned stem from extensive testing and trusted industry sources.