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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic LX5

Portability
77
Imaging
45
Features
36
Overall
41
Olympus E-420 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 front
Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic LX5 Key Specs

Olympus E-420
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 426g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Announced June 2008
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-410
Panasonic LX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-90mm (F2.0-3.3) lens
  • 271g - 110 x 65 x 43mm
  • Released December 2011
  • Older Model is Panasonic LX3
  • New Model is Panasonic LX7
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic LX5 Overview

Below, we are matching up the Olympus E-420 versus Panasonic LX5, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-420 (10MP) and the LX5 (10MP) is very well matched but the E-420 (Four Thirds) and LX5 (1/1.63") possess different sensor measurements.

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The E-420 was unveiled 4 years earlier than the LX5 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic LX5 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a complete comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the E-420 matches up versus the LX5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Panasonic LX5

 E-420 LX5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic LX5 over the Olympus E-420

 LX5 E-420 
ReleasedDecember 2011June 2008Fresher by 42 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic LX5

 E-420 LX5 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic LX5 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera frequently, you will need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-420 enjoys physical dimensions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") accompanied by a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Panasonic LX5 has specifications of 110mm x 65mm x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-420 versus Panasonic LX5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are using during that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the E-420 vs the LX5.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic LX5 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-420 and LX5 is 77 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic LX5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic LX5 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing just by reading through specifications. The visual underneath should provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-420 and LX5.

Plainly, both the cameras posses the exact same MP but different sensor sizing. The E-420 contains the larger sensor which is going to make achieving shallower DOF easier. The older E-420 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic LX5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic LX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic LX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-420
Portrait photography with Panasonic LX5
57
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
41
manual focus
delivers RAW formats
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.63")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography information
Panasonic LX5 Street photography information
64
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lighter than average (426 grams)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
59
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/1.63")
more heavy than competition in class (271 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography features
Panasonic LX5 Sports photography features
39
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
resolution not great (10MP)
not so great battery (500 shots)
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is small (1/1.63")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography advice
Panasonic LX5 Travel photography advice
53
lighter than average (426 grams)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse mode
not so great battery (500 per charge)
resolution not great (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
59
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
no Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (271 grams)
resolution not great (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-420
Landscape photography with Panasonic LX5
47
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
no image stabilization
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
not so great battery (500 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse mode
52
manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.63")
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic LX5 as a Vlogging camera
9
can't shoot video
29
quite wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone socket
more heavy than competition in class (271 grams)
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic LX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Panasonic LX5
 Olympus E-420Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-420 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2008-06-23 2011-12-15
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.63"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 8.07 x 5.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 44.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-90mm (3.8x)
Largest aperture - f/2.0-3.3
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 4.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 7.20 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - AVCHD Lite
Microphone port
Headphone port
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) 271g (0.60 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 110 x 65 x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 41
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 19.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 10.8
DXO Low light rating 527 132
Other
Battery life 500 pictures -
Style 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/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $999 $294