Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic GF7

In this article, we are evaluating the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic GF7, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference among the resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and GF7 (16MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

Photography Glossary

The E-420 was revealed 7 years earlier than the GF7 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic GF7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick summary of how the E-420 scores against the GF7 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus E-420 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-420 Gallery & Panasonic GF7 Gallery.

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera regularly, you should factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-420 enjoys outside measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") with a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GF7 has specifications of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") along with a weight of 266 grams (0.59 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic GF7 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-420 and the GF7.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-420 and GF7 is 77 and 90 respectively.

Often, it's tough to visualise the gap in sensor sizes only by looking through technical specs. The image below should offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-420 and GF7.

As you have seen, both cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Panasonic GF7 to provide you with more detail because of its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics far more aggressively. The more aged E-420 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.