Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic GX1

Here, we are looking at the Olympus E-420 versus Panasonic GX1, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a significant difference among the resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and GX1 (16MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-420 was unveiled 4 years before the GX1 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic GX1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting right into a detailed comparison, here is a short summary of how the E-420 matches up against the GX1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-420 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus E-420 Gallery and Panasonic GX1 Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera often, you'll have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-420 enjoys physical dimensions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") with a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Panasonic GX1 has sizing of 116mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") having a weight of 318 grams (0.70 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-420 versus Panasonic GX1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Below is a front view size comparison of the E-420 compared to the GX1.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-420 and GX1 is 77 and 87 respectively.

Generally, it can be difficult to visualise the difference in sensor sizes just by seeing a spec sheet. The picture below might give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-420 and GX1.

As you can see, both of these cameras come with the identical sensor size but not the same MP. You should anticipate the Panasonic GX1 to provide greater detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-420 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.