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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic L1

Portability
77
Imaging
45
Features
36
Overall
41
Olympus E-420 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 front
Portability
65
Imaging
42
Features
38
Overall
40

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic L1 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
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-410
Panasonic L1
(Full Review)
  • 7MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 606g - 146 x 87 x 77mm
  • Launched April 2007
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic L1 Overview

The following is a in depth review of the Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic L1, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and L1 (7MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-420 was revealed 15 months after the L1 which makes them a generation away from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic L1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief overview of how the E-420 matches up against the L1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Panasonic L1

 E-420 L1 
LaunchedJune 2008April 2007Newer by 15 months
Screen dimensions2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution230k207kClearer screen (+23k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic L1 over the Olympus E-420

 L1 E-420 

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic L1

 E-420 L1 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic L1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-420 offers outer dimensions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") and a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Panasonic L1 has specifications of 146mm x 87mm x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") and a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic L1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-420 and the L1.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic L1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-420 and L1 is 77 and 65 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic L1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic L1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions only by reading through specifications. The picture underneath may provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-420 and L1.

Plainly, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Olympus E-420 to give you extra detail because of its extra 3 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs more aggressively. The more modern E-420 will have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic L1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic L1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic L1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic L1 Portrait photography advice
57
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
55
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
MP count low (7MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography highlights
Panasonic L1 Street photography highlights
64
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lighter than others in class (426 grams)
fixed screen
no image stabilization
58
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competitors (606 grams)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-420
Sports photography with Panasonic L1
39
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
not so great battery life (500 CIPA)
41
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
MP count low (7MP)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography advice
Panasonic L1 Travel photography advice
53
lighter than others in class (426g)
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (500 per charge)
low megapixels (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
50
lighter than competitors (606 grams)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse function
MP count low (7 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic L1 Landscape photography highlights
47
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
small screen (2.7 inch)
no image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
not so great battery life (500 shots)
missing Time Lapse recording
48
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
no image stabilization
MP count low (7MP)
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging features
Panasonic L1 Vlogging features
9
no video
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic L1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Panasonic L1
 Olympus E-420Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-420 Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1
Category Entry-Level DSLR Advanced DSLR
Announced 2008-06-23 2007-04-11
Physical type Compact SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 7MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 3136 x 2352
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 3 3
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 45 45
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 2.5"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 207k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.46x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 13.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Red-Eye Auto, On, Red-Eye On, Red-Eye Slow Sync, Off, Slow Sync (1&2)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Maximum video resolution None None
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 426g (0.94 lbs) 606g (1.34 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 146 x 87 x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0")
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 photographs -
Type of battery 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 card
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $999 $1,500